Bedeutung
To ask about someone's leisure activities.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Vereinskultur' (club culture) is huge. Over 44% of Germans are members of at least one club. Asking about a hobby often leads to a discussion about club activities. In Austria, titles (like Magister or Doktor) are very important. When asking 'Was ist Ihr Hobby?', it's often polite to include the title: 'Was ist Ihr Hobby, Herr Doktor?' Swiss Germans might use the word 'Freizeitbeschäftigung' more often in formal writing, but 'Hobby' is perfectly understood and used in spoken Swiss Standard German. Many modern German companies (like Siemens or SAP) are moving toward 'Du' (informal) for everyone. In these places, 'Was ist dein Hobby?' might actually be more common.
Use the Plural
It's often safer to ask 'Was sind Ihre Hobbys?' because it assumes the person has more than one interest, making the conversation flow better.
The Capital 'I'
In emails or texts, always capitalize 'Ihr'. If you write 'ihr', you are asking about someone else's hobby (her/their).
Bedeutung
To ask about someone's leisure activities.
Use the Plural
It's often safer to ask 'Was sind Ihre Hobbys?' because it assumes the person has more than one interest, making the conversation flow better.
The Capital 'I'
In emails or texts, always capitalize 'Ihr'. If you write 'ihr', you are asking about someone else's hobby (her/their).
Add 'eigentlich'
Adding 'eigentlich' (Was ist eigentlich Ihr Hobby?) makes the question sound much more natural and less like a robot reading a textbook.
Be Ready to Explain
If you ask a German this, be prepared for a long answer! They take their leisure time seriously.
Teste dich selbst
You are talking to a new business partner. Which question is correct?
Entschuldigung, Herr Weber, ______?
You must use 'Ihr' for a business partner (formal) and 'ist' for the singular 'Hobby'.
Complete the plural version of the question.
Was ______ Ihre Hobbys?
'Hobbys' is plural, so the verb must be 'sind'.
Fill in the missing word in this formal dialogue.
A: Was ist ______ Hobby, Frau Müller? B: Mein Hobby ist {das|n} Malen.
The speaker is addressing 'Frau Müller', so the formal 'Ihr' is required.
Match the phrase to the correct person.
To whom would you say 'Was ist Ihr Hobby?'
Formal address is used for people in positions of authority or strangers.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formal vs. Informal
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenEntschuldigung, Herr Weber, ______?
You must use 'Ihr' for a business partner (formal) and 'ist' for the singular 'Hobby'.
Was ______ Ihre Hobbys?
'Hobbys' is plural, so the verb must be 'sind'.
A: Was ist ______ Hobby, Frau Müller? B: Mein Hobby ist {das|n} Malen.
The speaker is addressing 'Frau Müller', so the formal 'Ihr' is required.
To whom would you say 'Was ist Ihr Hobby?'
Formal address is used for people in positions of authority or strangers.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenYes, it is a loanword from English that is now fully integrated into the German language.
Yes, if you address your boss as 'Sie', this is the correct phrase to use.
The plural is 'Hobbys'. Note that it ends in 's', not 'ies'.
Use 'Was ist' for one hobby and 'Was sind' for multiple hobbies.
It is standard formal. For a slightly more relaxed but still polite version, use 'Was machen Sie gern in Ihrer Freizeit?'.
You can say 'Mein Hobby ist [Activity]' or 'Ich [Verb] gern'. For example: 'Ich schwimme gern'.
You can say: 'Ich habe kein spezielles Hobby, aber ich lese gern.'
Absolutely. It is the most common word for leisure interests.
In German, all forms of the formal 'you' (Sie, Ihr, Ihnen) must be capitalized in writing.
It's grammatically okay but sounds very stiff. Stick with 'Was'.
A 'Hobby' is an activity you do; an 'Interesse' is a topic you like to learn about.
Yes, 'Ihr' is the formal possessive for any person or group you address as 'Sie'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Was machen Sie gern?
similarWhat do you like to do?
Was sind Ihre Interessen?
similarWhat are your interests?
Haben Sie Hobbys?
similarDo you have hobbies?
Was ist dein Hobby?
informalWhat is your hobby? (informal)
Mein Hobby ist...
builds onMy hobby is...
