Which one should you use?
While ¿cuáles son tus pasatiempos? and ¿Cuáles son tus aficiones? both mean "what are your hobbies?", the word pasatiempos specifically translates to "pastimes". Additionally, ¿Cuáles son tus hobbies? is a colloquial way to ask the same question.
How does it change in a sentence?
The choice of possessive adjective changes the register: using tus makes the question directed at someone you are on informal terms with, while replacing tus with sus changes the question to a formal register.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use ¿qué son tus pasatiempos? instead of ¿cuáles son tus pasatiempos? You should use cuáles because it implies choosing from a set of possibilities, whereas qué is incorrect in this context when asking for a list of items like hobbies.
Did you know?
- The word pasatiempo can also refer to a physical puzzle book or a crossword, not just the general concept of a hobby.
- The word afición comes from the Latin affectio meaning 'affection' or 'passion'. This links a hobby to an emotional attachment rather than just a leisure activity.
- In Spain, the word aficiones is far more common than pasatiempos when talking about hobbies. In Latin America, however, pasatiempos is widely used and sounds perfectly natural.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, ¿cuáles son sus aficiones?Good morning, what are your hobbies?
Example conversation
Daniel and Maria are getting to know each other at a party.
- DanielHola, María. ¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos?Hi, Maria. What are your hobbies?
- MaríaMe gusta leer y nadar. ¿Y tú?I like reading and swimming. And you?
- DanielA mí me gusta jugar fútbol.I like playing soccer.
- MaríaEso suena muy divertido, Daniel.That sounds like a lot of fun, Daniel.
