Russian phrases for Sports and Leisure activities
It's easy to strike a conversation about hobby and leisure activities in Russian. Study the phrases below and try to use them in practice, whether it is in face-to-face conversation with your Russian friends or online via language exchange websites, penpals clubs, and voice software like Skype that enables you to make phone calls all over the world.
| У тебя есть хобби? [oo tee-byah yes't' khoh-bee] |
Do you have a hobby? | Какое у тебя хобби? [kah-koh-yeh oo tee-byah khoh-bee] |
What is your hobby? | Какими видами спорта ты занимаешься? [kah-kee-mee vee-dah-mee spohr-tah ti zah-nee-mah-eesh-syah] |
What sports do you play? (literally: What kinds of sports you engage in?) |
Take a note of one more phrase that will improve your command of the Russian language. Is has a cultural pecularity and is very popular when you want to find out more about another person in Russia. It can be translated into English approximately as "What are your interests?"
| Чем ты увлекаешься? [chyem ti oo-vlyeh-kah-eesh-sya] |
What are your interests? (Literally: What you engage in?) | |
| Что ты любишь + [infinitive] …? [shtoh ti lyoo-bish] |
What do you like + [the infinitive] …? |
Examples of the infinitive that can be used in the phrase above are: читать (to read), делать (to do), слушать (to listen to), готовить (to cook), пить (to drink), рассказывать (to story tell).
Talking about Activities
Below are a few key phrases to describe things that you might do for fun.
| Кататься на... [kah-tah-tsah nah...] |
To go... | |
| коньках [kahn'-kahkh] |
skating | |
| лыжах [lizhahkh] |
skiing | |
| роликах [roh-lee-kahkh] |
roller skating | |
| велосипеде [vee-lah-see-pyeh-dyeh] |
bycicling | |
| мотоцикле [mah-tah-tsik-lyeh] |
motocycling | |
| машине [mah-shi-nyeh] |
car driving |
| Играть на... [ee-graht' nah] |
To play... | |
| компьютере [kahm-pyoo-teh-ryeh] |
computer games | |
| гитаре [gee-tah-ryeh] |
guitar | |
| пианино [pee-ah-nee-nah] |
piano |
| Коллекционировать картины [kah-lyehk-tsi-ah-nee-rah-vaht' kahr-tee-ni] |
To collect paintings |
Addressing invitations
Here are some phrases that you can encounter when extending or accepting invitations to do something together with your new friends:
| Хорошая идея! [kha-roh-shah-yah ee-dyeh-yah] |
Good idea! | У меня нет (свободного) времени. [oo mee-nyah nyet (svah-bohd-nah-vah) vryeh-mee-nee] |
I don’t have (free) time. | Жаль. [zhahl'] |
It’s a pity. | К сожалению. [k sah-zhee-lyeh-new] |
Unfortunately. |
Check out other pages for taking about hobbies, fun and activities: How was your weekend?