Vocabulary: hobbies, music, sport and special occasions

Talk about your free time, the music you play and how you celebrate special occasions.

Practise this lesson free (7 questions)

Hobbies and sport

Jouer à + sport or game: je joue au foot. Faire de + activity: je fais de la natation.
FrenchEnglish
le temps librefree time
les loisirs (m)leisure activities
la lecturereading
la natationswimming
l'équitation (f)horse riding
la randonnéehiking, a hike
la pêchefishing
la dansedance
le terrain de sportsports ground
l'équipe (f)team
le joueur, la joueuseplayer
gagnerto win
perdreto lose
l'athlétisme (m) (H)athletics
s'entraîner (H)to train

Music

Jouer de + instrument: du piano, de la guitare, de l'harmonica, des percussions.
FrenchEnglish
jouer du pianoto play the piano
jouer de la guitareto play the guitar
jouer de la batterieto play the drums
jouer du violonto play the violin
l'instrument (m)instrument
chanterto sing
la choralechoir
l'orchestre (m)orchestra
le rythmerhythm
écouterto listen to
le concertconcert
le chanteur préféréfavourite singer
la musique poppop music

Special occasions

Offrir un cadeau = to give a present. Offrir is Higher; donner is Foundation.
FrenchEnglish
l'anniversaire (m)birthday
la fête d'anniversairebirthday party
inviterto invite
l'invitation (f)invitation
organiserto organise
le gâteaucake
célébrerto celebrate
s'amuserto have fun
danserto dance
la soiréeevening, party
recevoirto receive
bon anniversaire!happy birthday!
félicitations!congratulations!
offrir (H)to give (as a present)
Worked example

Translate: I play the drums in a band and at the weekend I go horse riding.

  1. play the drums = jouer de la batterie (jouer de + instrument)
  2. in a band = dans un groupe
  3. go horse riding = faire de l'équitation

Answer: Je joue de la batterie dans un groupe et le week-end, je fais de l'équitation.

Key idea

Le temps libre, les loisirs, la lecture, la natation, l'équitation, la randonnée, l'équipe, gagner, perdre. Jouer du piano / de la guitare / de la batterie, la chorale, l'orchestre. L'anniversaire, inviter, organiser, s'amuser, la soirée, félicitations!

Key words
la natation
swimming
gagner
to earn
offrir
to give (as a present)

All GCSE and International GCSE French key terms and definitions →

Quick check

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. What does l'athlétisme (m) mean?

    1. horse riding
    2. dance
    3. athletics
    4. player
    Show the answer

    Answer: athletics

    L'athlétisme = athletics.

  2. Which is the French for "to win"?

    1. s'entraîner (H)
    2. gagner
    3. la randonnée
    4. le terrain de sport
    Show the answer

    Answer: gagner

    To win = gagner.

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Practise this lesson free (7 questions)All GCSE and International GCSE French lessons

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Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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