What are your hobbies? vs What is your pastime?

Both phrases are correct and commonly used to inquire about someone's interests or activities outside of work or school. 'What are your hobbies?' is a more common and straightforward way to ask about activities a person enjoys doing in their free time. On the other hand, 'What is your pastime?' is a more formal and less commonly used way to ask the same question.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 1322 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used to inquire about someone's interests or activities outside of work or school.

"What are your hobbies?"

This phrase is a common and straightforward way to ask about activities a person enjoys doing in their free time.

Examples:

What are your hobbies? I enjoy painting and playing the guitar.
She asked me, 'What are your hobbies?'
I always struggle to answer the question, 'What are your hobbies?'
When someone asks, 'What are your hobbies?' it's a chance to share your interests.
He was curious and asked, 'What are your hobbies?'

Show examples from the web [+]

Some getting-to-know-you things, like, "Where are you from?" "What are your hobbies?"
Like, what are your hobbies?
Katie, what are your hobbies?
Goku-sa, what are your hobbies?

Alternatives:

What do you like to do in your free time?
What activities do you enjoy outside of work?
What are your interests outside of your job?
What do you do for fun?
What are your favorite pastimes?

This phrase is correct but less commonly used compared to 'What are your hobbies?' It is a more formal way to ask about someone's interests or activities outside of work or school.

"What is your pastime?"

This phrase is a more formal and less commonly used way to ask about activities a person enjoys doing in their free time.

Examples:

What is your pastime? Do you enjoy reading or gardening?
She inquired, 'What is your pastime?'
I find it interesting when people ask, 'What is your pastime?'
When you want to sound more formal, you can ask, 'What is your pastime?'
He prefers to ask, 'What is your pastime?' instead of 'What are your hobbies?'

Show examples from the web [+]

When did irony become a national pastime?
like other elitist, bourgeois pastimes?
You are not bored by our primitive pastimes?
You think violence is a pastime?
Did you assay him To any pastime?
Detecting is your pastime, mine is selling paintings.
We must get away from the artificial division between what is European and what is national.
Friends know the difference between what is business and what is personal.
Frattina bookstore to introduce the Leisure and Pastime collection.
Pretty sure it's their national pastime.
Fascination with serial killers is an American pastime.
His favourite pastime is playing computer games.
Robbie is enjoying his favorite pastime.
What is it? -Could be cardiac ischemia.
If you know what is right, you also know what is wrong, but if you do not know what is wrong, you will never achieve what is right.
What is apathy? Certainly nothing earth-shaking.
Literally: What is destroyed by fire.
What is remembered is forever young.
Your deeds are what is following you...
The recital clarifies what is meant by admissible production aids.

Alternatives:

What do you do for leisure?
What leisure activities do you enjoy?
What do you like to do in your spare time?
What are your favorite hobbies?
What activities do you pursue outside of work?

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What are your hobbies? vs What is your pastime?