#8 Making a Restaurant Reservation | Swedish Everyday Phrases
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#17 Talking About Hobbies | Swedish Everyday Life Phrases
Haruno
When you are talking with someone you have just met, a colleague, or a friend, discussing hobbies is a natural way to build rapport and reduce social distance.
When talking about hobbies in Swedish, it is important to explain your own interests while paying attention to the other person’s reactions and gradually expanding the conversation.
In this article, I introduce useful Swedish expressions for talking about hobbies, including ways to show interest and phrases that help deepen the conversation.
Contents
Dialogue
På fritiden gillar jag att fotografera, särskilt natur och landskap.
（In my free time, I enjoy taking photographs, especially of nature and landscapes.）
Det låter intressant. Hur länge har du hållit på med det?
（That sounds interesting. How long have you been doing it?）
I ungefär tre år. Jag började när jag reste mycket i norra Sverige.
（For about three years. I started when I was traveling a lot in northern Sweden.）
Använder du mest kamera eller mobil?
（Do you mainly use a camera, or a mobile phone?）
Oftast kamera, men ibland använder jag mobilen när jag vill resa lätt.
（Mostly a camera, but sometimes I use my phone when I want to travel light.）
Vad kul. Det måste vara roligt att dokumentera sådana resor.
（That’s nice. It must be enjoyable to document trips like that.）
1. Introducing Your Hobby Naturally
When you start talking about your hobby, it is more natural to first give a general idea rather than going into details immediately.
- På fritiden gillar jag att …
(In my free time, I like to …)
The phrase “på fritiden” means “in your free time” or “outside of work,” and is commonly used when shifting the topic away from work or school.
“gillar att + verb” expresses likes or habits and is well suited for light self-introductions.
- På fritiden gillar jag att läsa romaner.
(In my free time, I like reading novels.) - Jag gillar att laga mat på fritiden.
(I like cooking in my free time.)
2. Showing Interest in the Other Person’s Hobby
When the other person talks about their hobby, responding with a simple reaction helps keep the conversation going.
- Det låter intressant.
(That sounds interesting.)
The structure “det låter …” expresses empathy and interest, meaning “from what you say, it sounds …”. This short phrase signals that you are genuinely interested in what the other person is saying.
Similar expressions include:
- Det låter roligt.
(That sounds fun.) - Det låter spännande.
(That sounds exciting.)
3. Answering Questions and Explaining Your Experience
When the other person asks follow-up questions, it is ideal for you to answer concisely while leaving room for the conversation to continue.
A commonly asked question is:
- Hur länge har du hållit på med det?
(How long have you been doing it?)
The expression “hålla på med” means “to be engaged in” or “to have been doing,” and is frequently used for hobbies, sports, or ongoing activities.
A natural response is:
- Jag har hållit på med det i ungefär tre år.
(I have been doing it for about three years.)
It is perfectly acceptable to give an approximate number, and the word “ungefär” (about) is especially useful.
If necessary, you can briefly add background information:
- Jag började när jag reste mycket.
(I started when I was traveling a lot.)
4. Expanding the Conversation by Adding Details
When talking about hobbies, you may be asked about the tools you use or the situations in which you practice them.
In such cases, using a structure like “your usual choice + a conditional exception” helps make your explanation more engaging.
- Oftast kamera, men ibland använder jag mobilen när jag vill resa lätt.
(Mostly a camera, but sometimes I use my phone when I want to travel light.)
“oftast” means “most of the time” or “usually.” The phrase “Oftast kamera” omits the verb in a conversational way, meaning “I usually use a camera.”
By following it with “men ibland …” (but sometimes …), you can clearly show an exception to your usual habit.
This “oftast …, men ibland …” pattern can be applied to many hobbies:
- Oftast hemma, men ibland tränar jag på gymmet när jag har tid.
(Mostly at home, but sometimes I work out at the gym when I have time.) - Oftast ensam, men ibland tillsammans med vänner.
(Mostly alone, but sometimes together with friends.)
Summary
- På fritiden gillar jag att …
→ A natural way for you to introduce your hobby. - Det låter intressant.
→ A short phrase to show interest and encourage the conversation. - Jag har hållit på med det i …
→ A concise way to explain how long you have been doing something. - Oftast …, men ibland … när …
→ A useful structure for describing your usual habits and exceptions.
