How to Talk About Your Hobbies in Brazilian Portuguese
Use a simple hobby sentence and a follow-up question to move beyond “I like it” in conversation.
Real Life Portuguese · 6 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Use gostar de to say that you like doing an activity. When another verb follows, use the infinitive: gosto de cozinhar (I like to cook), gosta de caminhar (he or she likes to walk).
Name the activity with gostar de
Remember that gostar takes de even when English uses “like” without a preposition. For the full pattern, see our separate guide to gostar de in Portuguese.
Gosto de ler antes de dormir.
I like to read before bed.
Ela gosta de tocar violão.
She likes to play guitar.
A gente gosta de cozinhar junto.
We like cooking together.
Add how often you do it
Add a frequency word to make the answer more specific: sempre (always), geralmente (usually), às vezes (sometimes), or quase nunca (almost never). Put the frequency near the verb and keep the sentence short.
You can also say onde you do the activity or com quem (with whom). A small detail often gives the other person a natural follow-up.
Às vezes eu pinto no fim de semana.
Sometimes I paint on the weekend.
Geralmente corro de manhã.
I usually run in the morning.
Quase nunca jogo videogame durante a semana.
I almost never play video games during the week.
Ask about someone else’s interests
Ask O que você gosta de fazer? to invite someone to talk about activities. If they mention something unfamiliar, ask how it works or when they started.
A conversation about hobbies is a low-pressure way to practice the present tense and frequency words. Ask one follow-up and listen for a detail you can respond to.
O que você gosta de fazer no tempo livre?
What do you like to do in your free time?
Há quanto tempo você faz isso?
How long have you been doing that?
Você faz isso sozinho ou com outras pessoas?
Do you do that alone or with other people?
Put it into practice
Prepare three lines about one hobby: what it is, how often you do it, and one question you can ask another person.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “What do you like to do in your free time”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.