When you want to talk about something you like to do in your free time, the word you need is passatempo. It’s a very common and useful word, similar to 'hobby' or 'pastime' in English. For example, if you love to read, reading is your passatempo. Or if you enjoy playing sports, that's also a passatempo. It’s perfect for describing activities you do just for fun!
Grammar to Know
Nouns in Portuguese have gender (masculine or feminine). 'Passatempo' is a masculine noun, so it takes masculine articles and adjectives. For example, 'o meu passatempo favorito' (my favorite hobby).
O meu passatempo favorito é ler. (My favorite hobby is reading.)
To ask about someone's hobby, you can use 'Qual é o seu passatempo?' (What is your hobby?).
Qual é o seu passatempo? (What is your hobby?)
When listing multiple hobbies, you use the plural form 'passatempos'. For example, 'Os meus passatempos são ler e cozinhar' (My hobbies are reading and cooking).
Os meus passatempos são jogar futebol e ver filmes. (My hobbies are playing soccer and watching movies.)
You can describe a hobby using adjectives. For example, 'um passatempo interessante' (an interesting hobby).
Tricotar é um passatempo relaxante. (Knitting is a relaxing hobby.)
To express that you have a hobby, you can use the verb 'ter' (to have). For example, 'Eu tenho muitos passatempos' (I have many hobbies).
Ela tem um passatempo criativo, que é pintar. (She has a creative hobby, which is painting.)
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine someone *passing time* by doing their favorite hobby. 'Passatempo' sounds like 'pass a tempo' (pass a time).
Visual Association
Picture a clock with its hands spinning quickly, representing time *passing*, while someone happily engages in an activity like reading or gardening. This visual connects 'passatempo' with the idea of a pleasant activity that makes time go by quickly.
Word Web
Challenge
Think about your own hobbies. How would you say 'My hobby is reading' or 'What is your hobby?' in Portuguese using 'passatempo'? (Meu passatempo é ler. Qual é o seu passatempo?)
Test Yourself 24 questions
O meu ___ favorito é ler livros. (My favorite hobby is reading books.)
The sentence is about a favorite activity done for pleasure, which is 'passatempo'.
Ela tem muitos ___ nos fins de semana. (She has many pastimes on the weekends.)
The plural form 'passatempos' fits because she has 'many' (muitos).
Qual é o seu ___? (What is your hobby?)
The question is asking about a 'hobby', which is 'passatempo'.
Cozinhar é um ___ relaxante para mim. (Cooking is a relaxing hobby for me.)
Cooking, when done for pleasure and relaxation, is a 'passatempo'.
Eles praticam natação como ___. (They practice swimming as a hobby.)
Swimming done for leisure fits the definition of 'passatempo'.
Meu pai gosta de jardinagem, é o seu ___ preferido. (My father likes gardening, it's his favorite pastime.)
Gardening, when enjoyed in spare time, is a 'passatempo'.
My favorite pastime is reading books.
What is your hobby?
Cooking is a relaxing hobby for many.
Read this aloud:
Fale sobre um passatempo que você tem.
Focus: passatempo
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Pergunte a alguém qual é o passatempo favorito dela.
Focus: favorito
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Diga 'Dançar é um bom passatempo'.
Focus: dançar
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The speaker is asking about hobbies and mentioning their own.
The speaker is discussing painting as a hobby.
The speaker mentions their favorite weekend hobby.
Read this aloud:
Meu passatempo favorito é jogar futebol com meus amigos.
Focus: passatempo, favorito, jogar
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Para relaxar, meu passatempo é ouvir música clássica.
Focus: relaxar, ouvir, clássica
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Eu tenho muitos passatempos, como jardinagem e fotografia.
Focus: passatempos, jardinagem, fotografia
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence discusses the depth and specific skills required for a serious hobby of collecting ancient artifacts, fitting a C2 level through its complex vocabulary and structure.
This sentence uses sophisticated vocabulary and a complex sentence structure to describe genealogical research as a hobby, aligning with C2 proficiency.
This sentence explores the profound, almost spiritual, significance of a hobby, employing elevated language and an intricate structure characteristic of C2 level.
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
Example
Ler é o meu passatempo favorito.
Related Content
More daily_life words
à noite
A2at night; during the period from sunset to sunrise.
a par de
C1Aware of; abreast of; in addition to.
a propósito
B2By the way; incidentally; speaking of that.
à tarde
A2in the afternoon; during the period from noon to evening.
abastecimento
C1The action of supplying something with something else; provision of goods.
abotoar
B2To fasten (clothing) with buttons.
abranger
C1To cover, encompass, or include a wide range of things.
abre
B1Opens (third person singular of 'abrir').
Abril
A1April
Abrir
A1To open
