What are the favorite hobbies of the French, and why do they like these activities?
 

This is our conversation topic this week in my French conversation group. You can practice your French up to 7 times a week with other motivated learners to gain confidence in your speaking and express yourself more naturally in French. 

 

 

"Hobbies" are activities that we can do during our free time, a moment when we are not working. These are activities that we like, that make us feel good.
 

There are several words to talk about hobbies. We can use the anglicism "hobby". "A hobby". We can also talk about "pastime". "A pastime". Something that makes us pass the time, that does not bore us. We can also say that an activity is our "dada". For example, drawing, "it's my dada". It means that it's something I like to do.
 

First, there is the cinema, a deeply ingrained French passion. Indeed, the French are true "cinemaphiles", a word that designates people who are passionate about cinema. They rush into the dark rooms as soon as a new film comes out. Whether it's French, Hollywood, or international films, the French appreciate all genres. Cinemas are places of encounter, escape, and discovery. And for them, going to the cinema is not just watching a film, it's also an opportunity to debate and exchange on what they have seen.
 

Then, "reading" is a hobby that holds a big place in the daily life of the French. "Novel", "comic book", "newspaper" or "poetry collection", there is something for everyone. The French are known to be great "readers". Reading is kind of like a stationary journey, a way to escape without leaving one's armchair. It allows to enrich one's vocabulary,

Then, "reading" is a hobby that holds a big place in the daily life of the French. "Novel", "comic book", "newspaper" or "poetry collection", there is something for everyone. The French are known to be great "readers". Reading is kind of like a stationary journey, a way to escape without leaving one's armchair. It allows to enrich one's vocabulary, develop one's imagination and open one's mind to the world.
 

Football is also a very, very, very popular pastime in France. It is often said that it is the king of sports, that is to say, the most appreciated sport. The stadiums are packed every weekend. Football matches are also an opportunity to meet with friends or family, to share moments of joy and tension.
 

Cooking and eating are hobbies in their own right for the French. They enjoy spending time preparing good little dishes and savoring them in good company. Gastronomy is much more than just food, it's a way of life. It's the moment when people gather around a table to share moments of conviviality and pleasure.
 

And of course, there is hiking. The French are lucky to live in a country with varied landscapes, between mountains, forests, countryside and beaches. Hiking is the act of walking sportingly in nature, often on marked trails, roads for people who walk and on which the path is indicated. Hiking is an activity that allows you to recharge your batteries, to fill up with energy and to discover breathtaking panoramas.
 

To add a little spice, that is to say to make things more interesting, some French people have more original hobbies like dancing, horse riding - which is the act of riding a horse, photography, or even oenology - the art of appreciating wine.
 

Whether solo, with family, or with friends, the French know how to enjoy every moment. "You have to know how to stop time, choose a moment and live it fully". This is a philosophy that is found in their hobbies.
 

Here is an overview of the favorite hobbies of the French. Whether they choose to escape in front of a good movie, to immerse themselves in a fascinating book, to vibrate to the rhythm of a football match, to savor a delicious meal or to explore the beauty of nature on foot, the French have a multitude of ways to spend their free time.
 

 

Vocabulary exercise: hobbies in French: