Creative hobbies are things people do for fun that use imagination and skill. You can talk about them with words like interest, hobby, and free-time activity. Say, My hobby is painting or I’m interested in photography. To talk about something new, use want to try or would like to try: I want to try pottery. Many creative hobbies are also activities, so words from Activities often fit here too. People may enjoy one hobby at home, in a class, or with friends.

Draw and paint are the main verbs for making images by hand. A person can sketch a face, shade a tree, or draw a portrait of someone. Landscape is a picture of nature, such as mountains, fields, or the sea. For painting, watercolor, acrylic, and oil paint name common materials. Canvas is the surface for a painting, usually a strong cloth stretched over a frame. People often say, I’m working on a watercolor landscape or She painted a portrait on canvas.

canvasportraitsketchoil paintlandscapewatercoloracrylicshade

---

A sketch is a quick drawing with simple linesWatercolor is a type of paint mixed with waterAcrylic is a fast drying paint for art projectsA landscape is a picture of nature or a wide viewTo shade is to add dark and light areas to a drawingA canvas is a strong cloth surface for paintingA portrait is a picture of a personOil paint is a slow drying paint with rich color

Drawing and painting hobby words

Word	Definition
sketch	A sketch is a quick drawing with simple lines.
shade	To shade is to add dark and light areas to a drawing.
portrait	A portrait is a picture of a person.
watercolor	Watercolor is a type of paint mixed with water.
acrylic	Acrylic is a fast drying paint for art projects.
oil paint	Oil paint is a slow drying paint with rich color.
canvas	A canvas is a strong cloth surface for painting.
landscape	A landscape is a picture of nature or a wide view.

Scramble

Handmade hobbies use your hands to make useful or decorative things. Knit means to make fabric with two needles and yarn. Crochet uses one hook and yarn. Origami is folding paper into shapes like animals, flowers, or boxes. Scrapbooking means making a decorated book with photos, paper, and memories. Handmade cards are cards people make themselves for birthdays, holidays, or thank-you notes. You can say, I like knitting scarves or He makes handmade cards for his friends.

scissorsgluecrochetscrapbookingorigamibeadshandmade cardknitting

---

Crochet is the activity of making fabric with one hookKnitting is the activity of making cloth with yarn and needlesGlue is a sticky material used to join thingsBeads are small decorative pieces with holes in themScrapbooking is the hobby of making a decorated memory bookOrigami is the art of folding paper into shapesScissors are a tool for cutting paper or fabricA handmade card is a card made by hand for someone

Crafts and handmade hobby words

Word	Definition
knitting	Knitting is the activity of making cloth with yarn and needles.
crochet	Crochet is the activity of making fabric with one hook.
origami	Origami is the art of folding paper into shapes.
scrapbooking	Scrapbooking is the hobby of making a decorated memory book.
handmade card	A handmade card is a card made by hand for someone.
glue	Glue is a sticky material used to join things.
scissors	Scissors are a tool for cutting paper or fabric.
beads	Beads are small decorative pieces with holes in them.

Scramble

Photography hobby language often starts with take photos or take pictures. A photographer frames a shot by choosing what appears in the picture. A tripod holds the camera steady and keeps photos from looking blurry. People also edit images after taking them, often to crop, brighten, or change colors. You can describe a hobby with phrases like I enjoy taking photos of nature or She uses a tripod when she shoots at night. The word shot can mean one photo or one camera view.

tripodtake a photofocusframe a shotedit imagelensalbumportrait mode

---

To focus means to make the subject look clearTo frame a shot means to choose what appears in the pictureAn album is a collection of photos kept togetherA lens is the glass part of a camera that helps make the picturePortrait mode is a camera setting for people picturesTo take a photo means to make a picture with a cameraTo edit image means to change a photo on a computer or phoneA tripod is a three legged stand for a camera

Photography hobby words and tools

Word	Definition
take a photo	To take a photo means to make a picture with a camera.
frame a shot	To frame a shot means to choose what appears in the picture.
edit image	To edit image means to change a photo on a computer or phone.
tripod	A tripod is a three legged stand for a camera.
lens	A lens is the glass part of a camera that helps make the picture.
focus	To focus means to make the subject look clear.
portrait mode	Portrait mode is a camera setting for people pictures.
album	An album is a collection of photos kept together.

Scramble

Music hobbies use words for both performing and practicing. You can play guitar, sing songs, practice piano, or write lyrics. A singer or musician rehearses to prepare for a performance. Lyrics are the words in a song. Practice is regular work to improve skill. People often say, He practices piano every evening or They rehearse their song before the show. In everyday English, play goes with instruments, not with singing.

melodysing songsrhythmpractice pianorehearsewrite lyricsconcertplay guitar

---

A concert is a live music performance for an audienceTo sing songs means to use your voice to perform musicTo write lyrics means to create the words for a songRhythm is the regular beat in musicTo practice piano means to spend time improving piano skillTo rehearse means to practice a performance before showing itA melody is the main tune of a songTo play guitar means to make music with a guitar

Music hobby words for everyday use

Word	Definition
play guitar	To play guitar means to make music with a guitar.
sing songs	To sing songs means to use your voice to perform music.
practice piano	To practice piano means to spend time improving piano skill.
write lyrics	To write lyrics means to create the words for a song.
rehearse	To rehearse means to practice a performance before showing it.
melody	A melody is the main tune of a song.
rhythm	Rhythm is the regular beat in music.
concert	A concert is a live music performance for an audience.

Scramble

Writing as a hobby can be private or public. People keep a journal when they write about daily life, thoughts, or memories. They may write stories or write poetry for pleasure. A blog post is a piece of writing published online. Writers often edit drafts before they share the final version. A draft is an early version that can still change. You can say, She writes poetry in her journal or He edited three drafts of his blog post.

draftblog postheadlineeditjournalpoetrystorypublish

---

A story is a written account of events or imaginationPoetry is a creative form of writing with strong image and rhythmA blog post is a short article published onlineA headline is a short title for an article or postTo edit means to improve writing by changing words and fixing mistakesTo publish means to make writing available for readersA draft is a first version of a piece of writingA journal is a book for personal thoughts and notes

Writing hobby words for personal expression

Word	Definition
journal	A journal is a book for personal thoughts and notes.
story	A story is a written account of events or imagination.
poetry	Poetry is a creative form of writing with strong image and rhythm.
blog post	A blog post is a short article published online.
draft	A draft is a first version of a piece of writing.
edit	To edit means to improve writing by changing words and fixing mistakes.
headline	A headline is a short title for an article or post.
publish	To publish means to make writing available for readers.

Scramble

Video hobby language often uses record, film, and edit. You record a video with a phone, camera, or computer. You film clips when you make short pieces of video. A scene is one part of a video or film in one place or moment. After filming, people edit video to cut, arrange, and improve the clips. Subtitles are the words shown at the bottom of the screen. People use them for dialogue, translation, or accessibility. You can say, I filmed a short scene and added subtitles.

filmclipsubtitleedit videoscenerecorduploadcamera angle

---

A scene is a single part of a film or video storyTo edit video means to change and arrange video clipsTo film means to make a video or movieA subtitle is a line of text shown at the bottom of a videoTo upload means to send a file to the internetTo record means to capture sound or videoA clip is a short piece of videoA camera angle is the position from which the camera records

Film and video hobby words

Word	Definition
record	To record means to capture sound or video.
film	To film means to make a video or movie.
clip	A clip is a short piece of video.
scene	A scene is a single part of a film or video story.
edit video	To edit video means to change and arrange video clips.
subtitle	A subtitle is a line of text shown at the bottom of a video.
camera angle	A camera angle is the position from which the camera records.
upload	To upload means to send a file to the internet.

Scramble

Sewing hobbies use words for making or changing clothes. To sew clothes means to join fabric with thread and a needle or sewing machine. Hem means to fold and sew the edge of pants, a skirt, or a dress. A pattern is a paper guide for cutting and sewing fabric. Embroidery is decoration made with thread and needle. People who enjoy fashion may also design outfits, choosing clothes, colors, and shapes together. You can say, She used a pattern to sew a dress or He added embroidery to a shirt.

fabricsew clothesembroiderypatternthreadbuttonhemdesign outfit

---

To hem means to make the edge of cloth neat and shorterA button is a small round piece used to fasten clothesA pattern is a paper guide for making clothesEmbroidery is the art of decorating cloth with stitchesTo sew clothes means to make garments with needle and thread or a machineFabric is the cloth used to make clothes and other itemsTo design outfit means to plan how clothes will look togetherThread is the thin string used for sewing

Sewing and fashion hobby words

Word	Definition
sew clothes	To sew clothes means to make garments with needle and thread or a machine.
hem	To hem means to make the edge of cloth neat and shorter.
pattern	A pattern is a paper guide for making clothes.
embroidery	Embroidery is the art of decorating cloth with stitches.
design outfit	To design outfit means to plan how clothes will look together.
fabric	Fabric is the cloth used to make clothes and other items.
thread	Thread is the thin string used for sewing.
button	A button is a small round piece used to fasten clothes.

Scramble

A few simple phrases help you talk about hobbies in everyday conversation. Say I’m into + noun or gerund: I’m into drawing or I’m into making videos. Use I enjoy + noun or gerund: I enjoy photography or I enjoy writing stories. To talk about a new interest, say I want to try + noun or gerund: I want to try crochet. My hobby is + noun or gerund also works well: My hobby is knitting. These phrases are common when people ask about Activities they do in their free time.