A hobby is an activity done regularly for pleasure in one’s free time. This list gives 1488 hobbies from A to Z with what each one involves and its kind, from crafts such as origami and knitting, through collecting, games, sport and the outdoors, to learning, cooking and quiet pursuits such as meditation and journaling.
What makes a hobby
A hobby is done for its own sake: for enjoyment, skill, company or calm rather than for a wage. It can be making something (pottery, woodworking, sewing), performing (music, dance, acting), collecting (stamps, coins, records), playing (chess, cricket, video games), exploring (hiking, bird watching, travel) or learning (languages, coding, genealogy). The kind column puts each hobby in one of 40 kinds and gives any other name it goes by; where a hobby has a learned name, such as philately or phillumeny, the list uses that name.
The kinds of hobbies
The list groups its hobbies into 40 kinds: animal keeping, training and pet activities (26); aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation (25); board games, card games and tabletop role-playing (47); calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts (30); coffee, tea and beverage hobbies (22); collecting and collection study (99); computing, programming and digital creativity (42); cooking, baking and food crafts (45); cycling, skating and wheeled recreation (24); dance and movement arts (42); drawing, painting and illustration (35); electronics, radio, robotics and technical making (34); equestrian and animal-assisted sports (21); gardening, horticulture and floral design (45); hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures (41); history, geography, culture and humanities (32); jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items (33); martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice (56); models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies (28); music, singing, instruments and audio creation (78); nature observation and field natural history (32); paper crafts, book arts and stationery (28); photography, filmmaking and visual media (30); pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics (29); puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges (35); racket, target, lawn and precision sports (40); reading, languages and word interests (24); repair, restoration and home projects (32); science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning (37); sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet (40); snow, ice and winter recreation (24); social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes (49); swimming, boating and water sports (38); team sports and group field games (40); theater, comedy, magic and circus skills (38); travel, local exploration and spotting (40); video games, interactive entertainment and fandom (35); weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation (28); woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft (32); writing, storytelling and publishing (32). Many hobbies belong to more than one kind, so the list gives each its main one; typing a word such as “collecting”, “dance” or “water” in the search box lists that whole group.
Hobbies and What They Involve
No hobby matches that search.
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| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| 360-degree photography | Creating images or videos that show a surrounding scene. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| 3D animation | Animating three-dimensional digital characters or scenes. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| 3D modeling | Creating three-dimensional digital objects and scenes. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| 3D printing | Making physical objects from digital models with additive manufacturing. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
A
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| A cappella singing | Performing vocal music without instrumental accompaniment. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Abacus practice | Performing calculations with an abacus or related mental techniques. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Abseiling | Descending a fixed rope with suitable equipment and training. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures · also rappelling |
| Abstract art | Creating compositions that need not depict recognizable subjects. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Abstract strategy games | Playing strategy games with limited theme and clearly defined rules. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Accordion playing | Playing music using an accordion's keys, buttons, and bellows. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Achievement hunting | Pursuing optional objectives and completion goals in games. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Acoustics experiments | Exploring sound, vibration, and resonance. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Acrobatics | Performing balances, tumbles and lifts, alone or with partners. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Acrylic painting | Creating pictures with acrylic paints. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Acting | Practicing the portrayal of characters and dramatic situations. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Action-figure collecting | Collecting poseable figures based on characters or other subjects. | Collecting and collection study |
| Adaptive cycling | Cycling with equipment adapted to a rider's access needs. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Adaptive riding | Participating in horse riding with suitable adaptations and support. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Adaptive skiing | Skiing with techniques or equipment adapted to individual needs. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Adaptive swimming | Swimming with methods or support suited to individual access needs. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Adult coloring | Coloring prepared illustrations for enjoyment. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Adventure gaming | Playing games built around exploration, narrative, and problem solving. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Advertising memorabilia collecting | Collecting objects and printed materials from commercial | Collecting and collection study |
| Aerial hoop | Practicing acrobatic positions and transitions on a suspended hoop. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Aerial silks | Performing suspended movements using hanging fabric. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Aerobatic flying | Performing controlled aerial maneuvers in suitable aircraft. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Aerobics | Following rhythmic exercise routines for recreation and fitness. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Aerophilately | Collecting airmail stamps, covers and flight markings; a branch of philately. | Collecting and collection study |
| AI-assisted art experimentation | Using generative tools as part of a personal creative process. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Aikido | Practicing the movement, balance, and control techniques of aikido. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Ailurophily | Keeping, breeding and showing cats as an enthusiast. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities · also cat fancy |
| Air hockey | Playing a tabletop game with a low-friction puck and hand-held strikers. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Air-dry clay modeling | Sculpting with clay-like materials that harden without firing. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Airbrush art | Applying paint with an airbrush to create controlled sprays and gradients. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Aircraft spotting | Observing and recording aircraft types and registrations. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Airgun target shooting | Practicing precision shooting with sporting air rifles or pistols. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Airsoft | Playing organized games with purpose-designed sporting replica equipment. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Allotment gardening | Growing plants on an individually tended plot within a larger site. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Alpine skiing | Descending snowy slopes on skis. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Amateur astronomy | Observing and studying celestial objects as a personal interest. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Amateur meteorology | Studying weather processes and interpreting observations. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Amateur radio | Communicating and experimenting on designated amateur radio bands. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making · also ham radio |
| Amateur theater | Participating in nonprofessional dramatic productions. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Amateur-radio contesting | Making radio contacts within organized competitive events. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| American football | Playing the team sport of advancing a ball by running or passing. | Team sports and group field games |
| Amigurumi | Making small stuffed figures, usually with crochet or knitting. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Amphibian keeping | Maintaining appropriate captive environments for suitable amphibians. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Animal tracking | Recognizing tracks and other signs of animal activity. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Animal-shelter volunteering | Helping an animal-care organization with suitable volunteer tasks. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Ant keeping | Maintaining a suitable captive ant colony for observation. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities · also myrmecology |
| Antakshari | Playing the singing game in which each song begins with the last letter of the one before. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Antenna building | Designing and making antennas for suitable receiving or transmitting projects. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Anthropology as an interest | Exploring human societies, cultures, and ways of life. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Antique restoration | Repairing older objects with attention to their materials and history. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Antique-market browsing | Visiting antique markets to learn about and seek older objects. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Apiculture | Managing honeybee colonies and studying their behavior. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities · also beekeeping |
| App prototyping | Building early interactive versions of software ideas. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Applique | Attaching fabric shapes to another fabric surface. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Aquaponics | Combining plant cultivation with a managed aquatic-animal system. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Aquarium keeping | Maintaining a suitable aquatic environment for chosen species. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities · also aquaristics |
| Aquascaping | Designing underwater layouts with plants, hardscape, and suitable livestock. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Arabic calligraphy | Practicing artistic lettering in Arabic scripts. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Arcade gaming | Playing coin-operated or arcade-style games. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Archaeology as an interest | Studying archaeological findings and joining authorized educational | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Architectural modeling | Making scale representations of buildings or planned structures. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Architectural photography | Photographing buildings and designed spaces. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Architectural-history study | Exploring buildings and the development of architectural traditions. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Architecture walks | Exploring buildings and urban design through walking routes. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Archive transcription | Transcribing historical or research records for organized projects. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Arctophily | Collecting teddy bears by age, maker, or style. | Collecting and collection study · also teddy-bear collecting |
| Arenophily | Collecting sand samples from beaches and deserts. | Collecting and collection study |
| Art collecting | Building a personal collection of artworks. | Collecting and collection study |
| Art journaling | Combining drawings, writing, collage, and other art in a journal. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Art-gallery visiting | Viewing exhibitions and discussing artworks. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Art-history study | Learning about art, artists, movements, and historical contexts. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Artistic roller skating | Performing choreographed routines and technical elements on roller | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Artistic swimming | Performing coordinated movement routines in water. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Artistic welding | Joining metal pieces to make sculptures or decorative structures. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Assemblage art | Constructing sculpture from found or manufactured objects. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Association football | Playing the team sport of advancing and kicking a ball toward a | Team sports and group field games · also soccer |
| Astrology-history study | Studying astrology as a historical and cultural belief system. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Astrophotography | Photographing astronomical objects and the night sky. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Audio-drama production | Creating performed stories using voices, music, and sound effects. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Audio-equipment restoration | Restoring older amplifiers, players, or other audio equipment. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Audiobook listening | Listening to narrated books for enjoyment. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Audiobook narration | Recording spoken readings of books and other texts. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Audiophilia | Pursuing high-fidelity sound reproduction with fine audio equipment. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation · also hi-fi |
| Augmented-reality gaming | Playing games that combine digital elements with physical surroundings. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Australian rules football | Playing the field sport using kicks, handpasses, and marked catches. | Team sports and group field games |
| Autobiographical writing | Recording one's life story and personal development. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Autocross | Driving timed courses laid out with cones in controlled venues. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Automata making | Constructing mechanical figures or scenes with repeated movements. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Automation scripting | Writing scripts to automate personal computer tasks. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Aviculture | Caring for and studying lawfully kept captive birds, sometimes | Animal keeping, training and pet activities · also bird keeping |
| Axe throwing | Throwing sporting axes at designated targets in suitable venues. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
B
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Bachata dancing | Practicing partnered dance associated with bachata music. | Dance and movement arts |
| Backcountry skiing | Skiing outside maintained resort terrain with appropriate preparation. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Backgammon | Playing the dice-and-movement board game with opposing sets of checkers. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Backpacking | Traveling on foot while carrying equipment for overnight stays. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Badminton | Playing the racket sport with a shuttlecock and net. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Bagpipe playing | Playing music on bagpipes. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Balcony gardening | Designing and maintaining gardens on balconies. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Ballet | Practicing the movement techniques and repertoire of ballet. | Dance and movement arts |
| Ballet appreciation | Watching and learning about ballet performances. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Balloon twisting | Shaping long balloons into figures and decorative forms. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Ballroom dancing | Learning partnered social and competitive ballroom dances. | Dance and movement arts |
| Banjo playing | Playing music on the banjo. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Bansuri playing | Playing the bamboo flute used in South Asian musical traditions. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Barbecue cooking | Preparing foods using barbecue styles and techniques. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Barbershop singing | Singing close-harmony arrangements in the barbershop style. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Barre fitness | Practicing exercise routines that use a barre and dance-inspired movements. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Barrel racing | Riding a timed pattern around barrels. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Baseball | Playing the bat-and-ball game involving bases and innings. | Team sports and group field games |
| Basket weaving | Interlacing flexible materials to make baskets and related forms. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Basketball | Playing the team sport of shooting a ball through elevated hoops. | Team sports and group field games |
| Bass-guitar playing | Playing bass lines and other music on bass guitar. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Bassoon playing | Playing music on the bassoon. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Bat watching | Observing bats without disturbing roosts or sensitive habitats. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Batik | Using wax resist to create dyed fabric designs. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Beach tennis | Playing a netted racket sport on sand. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Beach volleyball | Playing volleyball on sand. | Team sports and group field games |
| Beachcombing | Exploring shorelines for natural objects and traces of coastal life. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Bead embroidery | Stitching beads onto fabric or another backing. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Bead weaving | Creating beaded fabric or patterns with thread and beads. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Beadwork | Arranging or stitching beads into jewelry and decorative items. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Beatboxing | Producing rhythmic and musical sounds with the mouth and voice. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Beer appreciation | Exploring beer styles, brewing traditions, and sensory characteristics. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Belly dance | Practicing dance styles emphasizing articulated torso and hip movements. | Dance and movement arts |
| Bhangra | Practicing dance associated with Punjabi bhangra traditions. | Dance and movement arts |
| Bharatanatyam | Learning the Indian classical dance form associated with Tamil Nadu. | Dance and movement arts |
| Bibliopegy | Assembling pages and covers into books. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery · also bookbinding |
| Bibliophily | Building a collection around authors, subjects, editions, or other interests. | Collecting and collection study · also book collecting |
| Bicycle repair | Maintaining and repairing bicycles. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Bicycle restoration | Returning older bicycles to working or display condition. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Bicycle touring | Traveling by bicycle, often over multiple days. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Bicycle trials | Riding over obstacles while developing precise balance and control. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Bikepacking | Combining cycling with compact gear for overnight outdoor travel. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Bird photography | Photographing birds and their behavior. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Birdhouse building | Constructing shelters or nesting boxes suited to particular birds. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Birdsong identification | Learning to recognize birds through their calls and songs. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Birdwatching | Identifying and observing wild birds by sight and sound. | Nature observation and field natural history · also birding, compare ornithology |
| Blacksmithing | Shaping heated metal with hammers and related tools. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Blackwork embroidery | Creating embroidery with predominantly one color and patterned stitches. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Blind football | Playing an adapted football format designed for players with visual impairments. | Team sports and group field games |
| Block printing on fabric | Printing repeated designs on cloth with carved blocks. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Blogging | Writing and maintaining a personal online publication. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| BMX riding | Riding BMX bicycles on tracks, ramps, or purpose-built areas. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Board gaming | Playing tabletop games that use boards, pieces, or similar components. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Board-game collecting | Collecting tabletop games by theme, designer, era, or mechanism. | Collecting and collection study |
| Boatbuilding | Constructing small boats or restoring traditional boat structures. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Bobbin lace | Making lace by crossing and twisting threads wound on bobbins. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Bocce | Rolling or throwing balls toward a target ball. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Boccia | Playing a precision target-ball sport with accessible throwing or ramp options. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Bodyboarding | Riding waves while lying or kneeling on a short board. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Bodybuilding | Training and presenting muscular development as a sporting pursuit. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Bodysurfing | Riding waves using the body, often with fins. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Bollywood dance | Learning choreography inspired by Indian popular cinema. | Dance and movement arts |
| Bonsai | Training living trees in containers through sustained horticultural care. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Book folding | Folding book pages into decorative forms or images. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Book repair | Repairing damaged books using suitable materials and methods. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Book reviewing | Writing considered responses to books one reads. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Book-club participation | Discussing selected books with other readers. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Book-cover crafting | Making decorative covers and cases for books. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Book-nook making | Building miniature scenes designed for bookshelves. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Boomerang throwing | Practicing throws with returning or sporting boomerangs. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Botanical illustration | Depicting plants with attention to structure and identifying details. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Botanical-garden visiting | Exploring designed collections of plants. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Botany study | Learning about plant structure, diversity, and ecology. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Bottle collecting | Collecting bottles by age, use, maker, or design. | Collecting and collection study |
| Bottle gardening | Growing small gardens inside bottles or similar glass containers. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Bottle-cap collecting | Collecting caps and closures from beverage containers. | Collecting and collection study |
| Bouldering | Climbing shorter routes without a rope, using suitable landing protection. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Boxing | Training or competing in the sport of punching with gloved hands. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Brain teasers | Solving short problems requiring logic or alternative perspectives. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Brandophily | Collecting cigar bands. | Collecting and collection study · also vitolphilia |
| Brazilian jiu-jitsu | Practicing grappling with a strong emphasis on ground techniques. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Bread baking | Making and baking yeast-raised or other breads. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Breaking | Practicing the footwork, floorwork, and other movements of breaking. | Dance and movement arts |
| Bridge | Playing the partnership trick-taking card game with an auction. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Bridge spotting | Visiting and studying bridges and their designs. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Broadcast-band DXing | Trying to receive distant radio broadcasts. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Brush lettering | Creating letterforms with flexible brush strokes. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Bubble art | Creating artistic displays using soap bubbles. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Budget-travel planning | Researching and arranging leisure trips within a chosen budget. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Building-block construction | Creating models and structures with interlocking building bricks. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Building-set collecting | Collecting construction sets and related components. | Collecting and collection study |
| Bullet journaling | Designing and maintaining a personalized notebook organization system. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Bus spotting | Observing and recording buses, routes, and vehicle types. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Bushcraft | Practicing traditional outdoor living and camp skills. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Butterfly gardening and observation | Growing suitable host plants and observing butterfly life | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Butterfly watching | Finding, observing, and identifying butterflies. | Nature observation and field natural history · compare lepidopterology |
| Button collecting | Collecting clothing buttons by material, design, or age. | Collecting and collection study |
| Button making | Creating custom buttons or decorative pin-back badges. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
C
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetmaking | Building fitted or freestanding cabinets and storage furniture. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Cable knitting | Crossing groups of stitches to form raised rope-like patterns. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Cactus growing | Cultivating plants of the cactus family. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Cagophily | Collecting keys. | Collecting and collection study |
| Cajon playing | Playing the box-shaped percussion instrument. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Cake baking | Making cakes in different styles and flavors. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Cake decorating | Decorating cakes with icing, fondant, piping, or other finishes. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Calisthenics | Training with exercises that primarily use body weight. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Call-and-response poetry games | Participating in social games based on recalling or composing | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Calligraphy | Practicing expressive or decorative handwriting. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Camera collecting | Collecting photographic cameras and related equipment. | Collecting and collection study |
| Camera restoration | Repairing or restoring photographic equipment. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Camogie | Playing the women's Irish stick-and-ball sport related to hurling. | Team sports and group field games |
| Campanology | Ringing church or tower bells, especially in change ringing. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation · also bell ringing |
| Campfire cooking | Preparing meals with outdoor cooking equipment and fire. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Camping | Staying outdoors in a tent or other temporary shelter. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Can collecting | Collecting beverage cans by design, brand, or period. | Collecting and collection study |
| Canal boating | Traveling through canals in suitable leisure craft. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Canasta | Playing the rummy-family game based on melds and matching cards. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Candle making | Making decorative or functional candles. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Candy making | Preparing sweets such as toffee, fudge, and hard candies. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Canicross | Running cross-country while connected to a trained dog. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Canine scent work | Training dogs to locate designated scents. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Canine trick training | Teaching dogs coordinated or entertaining behaviors. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Canoe camping | Traveling and camping along routes reached by canoe. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Canoeing | Paddling a canoe, commonly using single-bladed paddles. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Canyoning | Traveling through canyons using walking, swimming, and rope techniques. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Capoeira | Practicing the Brazilian movement art combining martial, musical, and acrobatic | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Capture the flag | Playing a team field game focused on retrieving an opposing flag. | Team sports and group field games |
| Car camping | Camping with equipment transported close to the campsite by vehicle. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Car spotting | Observing and recording unusual, historic, or interesting automobiles. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Card gaming | Playing games using conventional or specialized card decks. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Card magic | Performing sleight-of-hand and other illusions with playing cards. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Card making | Designing and making greeting cards. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Cardistry | Performing decorative cuts, fans, and other playing-card flourishes. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Caricature | Exaggerating a person's recognizable features for artistic effect. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Carnatic vocal music | Studying and performing South Indian classical vocal traditions. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Carom billiards | Playing cue games based on ball contacts on a pocketless table. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Carriage driving | Driving horses or ponies harnessed to a carriage. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Carrom | Flicking a striker to pocket small disks on a square board. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Cartooning | Drawing humorous or stylized characters and situations. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Cartophily | Collecting illustrated cards from sports, games, or other themes. | Collecting and collection study · also trading-card collecting, cigarette-card collecting |
| Cassette collecting | Collecting recorded or blank audio cassettes and related releases. | Collecting and collection study |
| Castle and fort exploration | Visiting accessible castles, forts, and related historic structures. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Cat training | Teaching cats simple cues, activities, and enrichment behaviors. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| CD collecting | Collecting compact-disc music releases. | Collecting and collection study |
| Cello playing | Playing music on the cello. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Cemetery-history walks | Studying historic graves, memorials, and local history respectfully. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Ceramic collecting | Collecting pottery and porcelain objects. | Collecting and collection study |
| Ceramic glazing | Developing and applying surface finishes to ceramic objects. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Ceramic tile making | Designing and making decorative or functional clay tiles. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Chain mail making | Linking metal rings into flexible sheets or decorative pieces. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Chair caning | Weaving cane or similar materials into chair seats or backs. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Chair yoga | Practicing yoga movements using a chair for support. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Chamber music | Playing in small instrumental ensembles. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Charcoal drawing | Creating expressive drawings with charcoal sticks or pencils. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Charity crafting | Making useful or decorative items for charitable projects. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Charm making | Creating small decorative pendants and attachments. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Chaupar | Playing the traditional Indian cross-shaped board game. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Checkers | Playing the diagonal movement and capture board-game family. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing · also draughts |
| Cheesemaking | Producing fresh or aged cheeses with suitable equipment and methods. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Chess | Playing the strategic board game with alternating moves and differentiated pieces. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Chess puzzles | Solving tactical or strategic positions from chess. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Chess-problem composition | Creating chess positions with specified solutions or themes. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Chhau | Learning regional masked or unmasked dance traditions of eastern India. | Dance and movement arts |
| Chip carving | Removing small wood chips to form geometric patterns. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Chocolate making | Making molded chocolates, filled confections, and related treats. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Choral singing | Singing as part of a choir or chorus. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Christmas-ornament collecting | Collecting tree ornaments and related seasonal decorations. | Collecting and collection study |
| Cinema appreciation | Exploring films, directors, genres, and cinematic traditions. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Citizen astronomy | Contributing observations or classifications to astronomical research | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Citizen-science classification | Helping research projects by classifying images, recordings, or | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Citizen-science nature recording | Contributing structured wildlife or environmental observations | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Clarinet playing | Playing music on the clarinet. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Classic-car restoration | Repairing and restoring historic or collectible cars. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Classic-car touring | Taking leisure drives in historic or collectible vehicles. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Classical-language study | Studying languages such as Latin, Ancient Greek, or Sanskrit. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Clay sculpture | Modeling figures or abstract forms in clay. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Climate-data exploration | Examining publicly available climate records and patterns. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Clock collecting | Collecting and researching timepieces. | Collecting and collection study · also horology |
| Clock repair | Diagnosing and repairing suitable clock mechanisms. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Clockmaking | Building mechanical or other clocks as craft projects. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft · also horology |
| Clothing repair | Repairing garments to extend their useful life. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Clothing upcycling | Turning existing garments into new designs or uses. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Cloud watching | Observing and identifying cloud forms and changes. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| CNC machining | Making programmed cuts and shapes with computer-controlled machinery. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Coarse fishing | Angling for freshwater species outside game-fishing categories. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Coastal rowing | Rowing craft designed for coastal or rougher water conditions. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Cocktail mixing | Preparing mixed alcoholic drinks as a culinary pastime. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Coffee brewing | Exploring methods for preparing coffee. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Coffee cupping | Systematically tasting and comparing coffees. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Coffee roasting | Roasting green coffee beans and comparing their results. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Coin magic | Performing tricks and illusions with coins. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Coleopterology | Collecting and studying beetles. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Collage | Arranging and attaching paper, photographs, fabric, or other materials. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Collectible card gaming | Building decks and playing games with collectible cards. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Colored-pencil art | Building colored images through layers of pencil pigment. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Comet observing | Locating and following visible comets. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Comic and graphic-novel reading | Following stories told through sequential art. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Comic art | Telling stories through sequences of illustrated panels. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Comic-book collecting | Collecting comics by series, creator, character, or period. | Collecting and collection study · also pannapictagraphy |
| Comic-script writing | Planning dialogue and action for illustrated narrative sequences. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Commemorative album restoration | Repairing, organizing, and preserving family albums and | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Community gardening | Cultivating a garden in a shared community space. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Community meal preparation | Cooking with others for organized community meals. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Community seed exchanges | Sharing seeds and growing knowledge through organized exchanges. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Community tutoring | Sharing subject knowledge with learners through appropriate volunteer | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Community-arts participation | Joining collaborative arts activities and public creative projects. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Community-band participation | Playing music in a local amateur band. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Community-event organizing | Helping plan and run local social or cultural activities. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Community-theater directing | Guiding amateur actors and staging a theatrical production. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Comparative religion study | Learning about religious traditions and their histories. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Competitive gaming | Practicing and competing in organized video-game contests. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom · also esports |
| Composting | Managing organic materials to produce useful compost. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Computational music | Creating or analyzing music through programming. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Computer case modding | Customizing the appearance or layout of computer enclosures. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Computer hardware building | Selecting and assembling components into working computers. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Computer programming | Writing software for personal projects and enjoyment. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Computer-aided design | Designing precise models or drawings with computer software. | Computing, programming and digital creativity · also CAD |
| Concertgoing | Attending live musical performances. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Conchology | Collecting and identifying legally obtained empty shells. | Collecting and collection study · also seashell collecting |
| Console gaming | Playing games on dedicated home consoles. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Constructed-language creation | Designing invented languages with vocabulary and grammar. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Contact improvisation | Exploring improvised movement through shared balance and physical contact. | Dance and movement arts |
| Container gardening | Growing plants in pots and other containers. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Contemplative garden sitting | Spending unhurried time observing a garden and its changes. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Contemporary dance | Exploring modern expressive movement and choreography. | Dance and movement arts |
| Contra dancing | Dancing social figures in facing lines of partners. | Dance and movement arts |
| Control-line aeromodeling | Flying powered model aircraft controlled through attached lines. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Convention participation | Attending events centered on games, comics, media, or other shared | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Cookie baking | Making cookies and biscuits in different styles. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Cooking-club participation | Meeting with others to prepare and discuss food. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Cooperative board games | Playing games in which players pursue a shared objective. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Cooperative video gaming | Playing digital games toward shared goals with other players. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Copoclephily | Collecting decorative or commemorative keychains. | Collecting and collection study · also keychain collecting |
| Cornhole | Throwing filled bags toward holes in raised boards. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Cosplay | Creating and wearing costumes based on fictional or historical characters. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Costume making | Constructing clothing and accessories for performances or dress-up. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Creative coding | Using code as a medium for visual, musical, or interactive art. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Creative writing | Writing original imaginative work for enjoyment or sharing. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Crewel embroidery | Embroidering decorative designs with wool yarn. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Cribbage | Playing a card game using combinations and a scoring board. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Cricket | Playing the bat-and-ball game involving wickets, runs, and overs. | Team sports and group field games |
| Crochet | Creating fabric by drawing yarn loops through other loops with a hook. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Crokinole | Flicking wooden disks toward scoring areas on a round board. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Croquet | Striking balls through a course of hoops with mallets. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Cross-country skiing | Traveling over snow using skis and one's own propulsion. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Cross-stitch | Creating designs with small crossed stitches on a counted grid. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Crossword construction | Designing crossword grids and writing clues. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Cruciverbalism | Filling interlocking word grids from clues. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges · also crossword solving |
| Cryptic crosswords | Solving crosswords that combine definition clues with wordplay. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Cryptogram solving | Decoding substitution-based or other recreational cipher puzzles. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Crystal growing | Growing crystals from suitable hobby or educational materials. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Crystal-radio building | Making simple radio receivers using passive detection circuits. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Cultural-festival participation | Taking part in community celebrations and cultural activities. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Curling | Sliding stones toward a target on an ice sheet. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Custom-level design | Building playable maps, stages, or scenarios for games. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Cyanotype printing | Producing blue photographic prints with light-sensitive coatings. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Cybersecurity puzzle challenges | Solving authorized training challenges in controlled practice | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Cycle-speedway riding | Racing bicycles on short outdoor tracks. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Cyclocross | Cycling on mixed-terrain courses that include obstacles and dismounts. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
D
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Dance choreography | Creating movement sequences for individuals or groups. | Dance and movement arts |
| Dance fitness | Exercising through dance-based movement sessions. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Dandiya raas | Dancing patterned group sequences with paired sticks. | Dance and movement arts |
| Darkroom printing | Producing photographic prints with traditional darkroom processes. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Darning | Repairing holes or worn fabric by weaving replacement threads. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Darts | Throwing small pointed projectiles at a marked dartboard. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Data visualization | Turning data into charts, maps, and other explanatory graphics. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Debating | Discussing structured arguments and competing viewpoints with others. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Decorative egg painting | Painting or decorating eggs and egg-shaped forms. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Decorative knot tying | Making ornamental knots for practical objects or display. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Decoupage | Decorating objects with cutout images and protective finishes. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Deep-sky observing | Observing objects such as star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Deltiology | Collecting and studying illustrated or postal postcards. | Collecting and collection study · also postcard collecting |
| Devil-stick manipulation | Controlling a central stick using two hand sticks. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Diabolo | Manipulating a spool-shaped object on a string between two sticks. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Dialect study | Learning about regional or social varieties of language. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Diamond painting | Building pictures by placing small faceted craft pieces on adhesive designs. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Diary keeping | Recording daily experiences, thoughts, and observations. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Didgeridoo playing | Playing the Australian Aboriginal wind instrument and learning its cultural | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Die-cast model collecting | Collecting manufactured metal models, often of vehicles. | Collecting and collection study |
| Digitabulism | Collecting thimbles. | Collecting and collection study |
| Digital archiving | Organizing and preserving personal digital materials. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Digital cartography | Creating and styling maps with digital tools. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Digital painting | Painting images with software and digital input tools. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Digital sculpting | Shaping digital forms with sculpture-like software tools. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Dinghy sailing | Sailing small boats, often with one or two people. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Diorama building | Creating three-dimensional scenes with models and scenery. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Disc dog | Playing organized flying-disc activities with a dog. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Disc golf | Throwing flying discs toward a sequence of targets. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Discophily | Collecting and studying music released on vinyl records. | Collecting and collection study · also vinyl-record collecting |
| Discussion circles | Meeting to explore books, ideas, current affairs, or shared interests. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Disentanglement puzzles | Separating linked pieces without breaking them. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| DIY audio equipment | Building amplifiers, effects, or other personal audio projects. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| DIY home improvement | Completing suitable practical or decorative projects around the home. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Djembe playing | Playing the West African goblet-shaped hand drum. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| DJing | Selecting and mixing recorded music for an audience or personal enjoyment. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Documentary filmmaking | Making factual films about people, subjects, or events. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Documentary watching | Watching factual films and programs to explore subjects of interest. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Dodgeball | Playing a team game based on throwing and avoiding balls. | Team sports and group field games |
| Dog agility | Guiding a dog through a course of obstacles. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Dog showing | Preparing and presenting dogs at organized shows. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Dog sledding | Traveling on a sled pulled by trained dogs. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Dog training | Teaching dogs practical skills through suitable training methods. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Doll making | Creating dolls from textiles, clay, wood, or other materials. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Dollhouse miniatures | Creating and furnishing miniature domestic interiors. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Dominoes | Playing games with numbered rectangular tiles. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Doodling | Making spontaneous drawings and patterns. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Double-bass playing | Playing music on the large bowed or plucked double bass. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Dragon-boat paddling | Paddling as part of a crew in a dragon boat. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Dragonfly watching | Observing and identifying dragonflies and damselflies. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Drawing | Making images with lines, shading, and marks on a surface. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Dream journaling | Recording remembered dreams and recurring themes. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Dressage | Developing controlled, coordinated horse-and-rider movements. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Dressmaking | Making garments from fabric and patterns. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Driftwood art | Making decorative objects from legally obtained driftwood. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Drone flying | Operating recreational unmanned aircraft. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Drone racing | Flying drones through designated courses against time or competitors. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Drumming | Playing rhythmic music on drums or a drum kit. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Duathlon | Combining running and cycling in a multisport event. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Dumpling making | Preparing wrapped or shaped dough dishes with various fillings. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
E
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| E-bike touring | Exploring routes on an electrically assisted bicycle. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| East Asian brush calligraphy | Practicing character writing with brush and ink. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Eco-printing | Transferring plant-derived colors and impressions onto cloth or paper. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Ecology study | Exploring relationships among organisms and their environments. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Economic-history study | Exploring the historical development of economies and economic life. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Edible-flower cooking | Using correctly identified edible flowers in food preparation. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Electric-vehicle tinkering | Exploring and maintaining suitable low-risk vehicle projects and | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Electronic music hardware | Building or modifying suitable musical circuits and controllers. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Electronic music production | Making music with software, synthesizers, and electronic | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Electronics tinkering | Building and exploring electronic circuits and devices. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Embossing | Creating raised or recessed designs in paper or other materials. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Embroidery | Decorating fabric with stitched patterns and images. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Emulation projects | Recreating the behavior of older computing systems in software. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Enameling | Applying fused glass coatings to metal objects. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Encaustic painting | Making pictures with pigmented wax and heat. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Endurance riding | Taking part in organized long-distance horse-riding events. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Enigmatology | Studying and constructing puzzles of all kinds. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Entomology | Studying insects and their relationships with environments. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning · also entomology study |
| Envelope art | Decorating envelopes with illustration, lettering, or collage. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Environmental volunteering | Joining organized habitat, cleanup, or conservation activities. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Ephemera collecting | Collecting printed items originally intended for temporary use. | Collecting and collection study |
| Equestrian vaulting | Performing gymnastic movements on a moving horse. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Erhu playing | Playing the Chinese two-stringed bowed instrument. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Errinophily | Collecting stamp-like labels that are not postage stamps, such as charity seals. | Collecting and collection study · also cinderella collecting |
| Escape rooms | Solving physical or digital puzzles within a themed scenario. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Espresso making | Practicing espresso preparation and adjusting brewing variables. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Etymology | Exploring the origins and development of words. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Euchre | Playing a trick-taking card game with a reduced deck. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Eventing | Participating in a combined equestrian discipline of dressage, cross-country, and | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Ex-librism | Collecting bookplates (ex libris labels). | Collecting and collection study · also exlibrism |
| Exonumia | Collecting privately issued tokens used for payment, admission, or | Collecting and collection study · also token collecting |
| Experimental archaeology | Testing ideas about past techniques through documented reconstruction | History, geography, culture and humanities |
F
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric painting | Applying painted designs directly to textiles. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Fair Isle knitting | Working stranded color patterns associated with the Fair Isle tradition. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Falconry | Training and working with birds of prey within applicable regulatory systems. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Family-story recording | Writing down or recording stories shared by relatives. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Fan art | Making artwork inspired by existing stories, performers, or fictional worlds. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Fan editing | Creating personal reinterpretations or compilations of existing media where | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Fan fiction | Writing new stories using existing fictional worlds or characters. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Fandom participation | Discussing and creating activities around shared fictional or | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Fantasy sports | Playing games based on assembling virtual teams of real athletes. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Farmers-market exploration | Learning about local produce and food traditions through market | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Fashion illustration | Drawing clothing, accessories, and fashion concepts. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Fashion-history study | Studying clothing, accessories, and changing styles. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Fencing | Practicing sporting swordplay with foil, epee, or saber. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Festival travel | Visiting destinations to experience festivals and cultural events. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Fiber carding and blending | Preparing and combining fibers for spinning or felting. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Fiction reading | Exploring novels, short stories, and other invented narratives. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Field athletics | Practicing jumping or throwing events in athletics. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Field hockey | Playing hockey with curved sticks on a field or suitable surface. | Team sports and group field games |
| Field recording | Recording environmental sounds outside a conventional studio. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Figure drawing | Studying and drawing the human body and its poses. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Figure skating | Performing skating elements and choreographed routines on ice. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Filet crochet | Making open mesh and filled blocks to form designs. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Film and television reviewing | Writing assessments of screen stories and performances. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Film memorabilia collecting | Collecting objects associated with films and film production. | Collecting and collection study |
| Film photography | Creating photographs on light-sensitive film. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Film studies | Examining cinema as an art form and cultural practice. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Film-club participation | Watching and discussing films with a group. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Finger weaving | Creating woven or braided bands without a conventional loom. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Flag football | Playing a non-tackle football format using removable flags. | Team sports and group field games |
| Flamenco dance | Practicing the expressive movement and footwork of flamenco. | Dance and movement arts |
| Flash fiction | Writing very short fictional stories. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Flatbread making | Preparing breads such as tortillas, chapatis, and pita. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Flea-market exploring | Exploring markets selling secondhand goods and collectibles. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Flight simulation | Practicing virtual flying with simulation software and controls. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Floorball | Playing indoor team hockey with light sticks and a perforated ball. | Team sports and group field games |
| Floral arranging | Designing decorative compositions with flowers and foliage. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Flower gardening | Growing flowering plants for display or cutting. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Flute playing | Playing music on flutes, including transverse and other varieties. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Fly fishing | Fishing with artificial flies and specialized casting methods. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Fly tying | Making artificial flies used in fly fishing. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Folklore study | Studying traditional stories, customs, beliefs, and practices. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Font design | Creating digital typefaces and their letterforms. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Food dehydrating | Drying foods for snacks, ingredients, or preservation. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Food photography | Photographing food and drink with considered styling and lighting. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Food plating | Arranging dishes for visual presentation. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Food smoking | Flavoring or cooking foods with smoke using suitable methods. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Food tourism | Exploring places through their foods and culinary traditions. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Food-history study | Exploring historical ingredients, recipes, and eating practices. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Fossil collecting | Collecting and studying lawfully obtained fossil specimens. | Collecting and collection study |
| Fossil hunting | Searching for and studying fossils in permitted locations. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Fountain-pen collecting | Collecting and studying fountain pens. | Collecting and collection study |
| Foxtrot | Practicing the partnered ballroom foxtrot. | Dance and movement arts |
| Fractal art | Making images based on mathematical fractal structures. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Free-flight aeromodeling | Flying model aircraft without continuous external control. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Freediving | Diving underwater on a held breath with appropriate training. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Freerunning | Exploring expressive movement and acrobatics through physical environments. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Freestyle skiing | Practicing jumps, tricks, and other freestyle ski disciplines. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| French-horn playing | Playing music on the horn. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Freshwater fishkeeping | Caring for freshwater aquarium fish. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Friendship-bracelet making | Knotting or braiding thread into patterned bracelets. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Fruit and vegetable carving | Carving produce into decorative shapes and displays. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Fruit growing | Cultivating fruit-bearing plants. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Funambulism | Walking a tightrope or slackline as a performance skill. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills · also tightrope walking |
| Fungi identification | Studying the appearance and ecology of fungi. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Furniture making | Designing and constructing chairs, tables, cabinets, and other furniture. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Furniture refinishing | Renewing or changing furniture surface finishes. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Furniture restoration | Repairing and conserving furniture for continued use or display. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Fusilately | Collecting telephone cards. | Collecting and collection study |
| Futsal | Playing a small-sided indoor form of association football. | Team sports and group field games |
G
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Gaelic football | Playing the Irish field game combining carrying, kicking, and passing. | Team sports and group field games |
| Galanthophily | Growing and collecting varieties of snowdrops. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Game development | Designing and building original digital games. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Game mastering | Preparing and facilitating tabletop role-playing sessions. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Game modding | Creating permitted modifications to a game's content or behavior. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Game playtesting | Testing unfinished games and offering feedback on play. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Game streaming | Broadcasting one's gameplay and commentary. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Garba | Participating in the circular group dance associated with Gujarat. | Dance and movement arts |
| Garden design | Planning the planting, paths, structures, and appearance of gardens. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Garden journaling | Recording plant growth, seasonal changes, and gardening experiments. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Garden railways | Building and operating model railways outdoors. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Garden-structure building | Building planters, trellises, benches, and other garden features. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Gardening | Growing and caring for plants for pleasure. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Gatka | Practicing the Punjabi martial art associated with Sikh traditions. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Gel-plate printing | Creating monoprints using a flexible printing plate. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Gemstone cutting | Shaping and polishing stones for jewelry or display. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items · also lapidary |
| Genealogy | Researching ancestry, family relationships, and historical records. | History, geography, culture and humanities · also family history |
| Generative art | Creating art with rule-based or algorithmic systems. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Geocaching | Finding recorded hidden containers using location information. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Geographic information projects | Exploring spatial data with mapping and analysis software. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Geographical challenges | Visiting places according to personal themes or location-based goals. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Geography study | Learning about places, environments, and spatial relationships. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Geological field trips | Visiting landscapes to observe rocks, landforms, and geological | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Geology study | Learning about rocks, Earth structure, and geological change. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Geometry exploration | Investigating shapes, constructions, and spatial relationships. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Gift wrapping | Creating decorative presentations for gifts. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Gilli-danda | Playing the street game of striking a small wooden stick with a larger one. | Team sports and group field games |
| Glass engraving | Cutting or scratching designs into glass. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Glass etching | Creating frosted or textured designs on glass surfaces. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Glass fusing | Joining glass pieces through controlled heating in a kiln. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Glass painting | Applying decorative images or patterns to glass surfaces. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Glassblowing | Shaping hot glass with blowing and forming techniques. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Glassware collecting | Collecting decorative or functional glass objects. | Collecting and collection study |
| Gliding | Flying unpowered aircraft by using lift and atmospheric conditions. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation · also sailplane flying |
| Go | Playing the territorial strategy game with black and white stones. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing · also baduk, weiqi |
| Go problems | Solving tactical positions and life-and-death situations in Go. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Goalball | Playing a team goal-defending sport using an audible ball and eyeshades. | Team sports and group field games |
| Gold panning | Separating possible gold-bearing material using a pan in permitted locations. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Goldwork embroidery | Decorating textiles with metallic threads and related materials. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Golf | Playing a course by hitting a ball toward a series of holes. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Gond painting | Practicing painting traditions associated with Gond communities. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Gongfu tea practice | Preparing tea through small, repeated infusions in the gongfu style. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Gouache painting | Painting with opaque, water-based colors. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Gourd crafting | Carving, painting, or decorating dried gourds. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Graphic design | Combining images, text, and layout to communicate visually. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Gratitude journaling | Recording experiences and things for which one feels appreciative. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Gravel cycling | Riding mixed routes that include unpaved roads and tracks. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Greenhouse gardening | Growing plants in a controlled greenhouse environment. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Grilling | Cooking food over direct or indirect grill heat. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Group travel | Exploring places through trips with companions or organized groups. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Guitar playing | Playing acoustic, electric, or classical guitar. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Guzheng playing | Playing the Chinese plucked zither. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Gymnastics | Practicing body-control skills on the floor or apparatus. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
H
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat surveying | Recording the plants, animals, and conditions of a local habitat. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Haiku writing | Practicing short-form poetry inspired by haiku traditions. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Hair braiding and styling | Practicing creative arrangements of hair. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Hammock camping | Using a suitable suspended hammock as an outdoor sleeping setup. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Hand lettering | Drawing individual letters and words as visual designs. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Hand percussion | Playing instruments such as shakers, tambourines, and hand drums. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Hand sewing | Joining and shaping fabric with a hand needle and thread. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Hand-built ceramics | Forming clay objects with slabs, coils, or pinching techniques. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Hand-drawn animation | Creating motion from sequences of drawings. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Handbag collecting | Collecting bags by design, maker, or historical interest. | Collecting and collection study |
| Handbell ringing | Performing music with tuned handbells. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Handcycling | Riding a cycle propelled by hand cranks. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Handheld gaming | Playing games on portable dedicated devices. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Handmade papermaking | Forming paper sheets from prepared fibers. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Hang gliding | Flying a foot-launched wing supported by a rigid or semi-rigid frame. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Harmonica playing | Playing melodies, chords, and rhythmic patterns on harmonica. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Harmonium playing | Playing music on a reed keyboard instrument with bellows. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Harp playing | Playing music on a harp. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Hat collecting | Collecting headwear by style, culture, or era. | Collecting and collection study |
| Headphone modification | Customizing suitable headphone components and accessories. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Hearts | Playing a trick-taking card game that usually avoids penalty cards. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Helixophily | Collecting corkscrews. | Collecting and collection study |
| Heraldry study | Exploring coats of arms and heraldic traditions. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Herb gardening | Growing culinary, aromatic, or ornamental herbs. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Herbal-infusion blending | Combining food-safe herbs and ingredients for brewed drinks. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Herbalism | Growing, gathering and preparing herbs, especially medicinal plants. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Heritage volunteering | Helping preserve or interpret local historical places and records. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Heritage-railway visits | Visiting preserved railways and riding historic trains. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Heritage-site visits | Visiting places associated with cultural or historical significance. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Herpetoculture | Caring for lawfully kept reptiles with species-appropriate husbandry. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities · also reptile keeping |
| Hiking | Walking on trails or through outdoor landscapes for recreation. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Hindustani vocal music | Studying and performing North Indian classical vocal traditions. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Hip-hop dance | Practicing dance styles associated with hip-hop culture. | Dance and movement arts |
| Historic-house visiting | Exploring preserved homes and their histories. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Historical cooking | Recreating dishes from historical recipes and food traditions. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Historical European martial arts | Studying and practicing historical European combat systems. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Historical map study | Exploring how maps represent places and past understandings. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Historical reenactment | Recreating aspects of past life through organized interpretation or | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Historical wargaming | Recreating historical conflicts through tabletop rules and models or | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Historical-document study | Reading and interpreting letters, records, and other historical | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Hobby robotics | Designing, building, and programming small robots. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Home canning | Preserving food in sealed containers using tested methods. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Home cidermaking | Making cider from fruit juice where permitted. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Home cooking | Preparing meals as a creative and enjoyable activity. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Home decorating | Arranging colors, furnishings, and accessories for personal spaces. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Home energy-monitoring projects | Recording and exploring household energy use with suitable | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Home organization projects | Designing and maintaining storage and organization systems for | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Home recording | Recording music or spoken audio in a personal setup. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Home science experiments | Performing suitable educational experiments for personal learning. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Home soda making | Creating flavored carbonated drinks. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Home winemaking | Making wine where home production is permitted. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Home-automation projects | Creating systems that monitor or control household devices. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Home-movie archiving | Organizing, preserving, and editing personal film and video collections. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Home-network experimentation | Learning networking through one's own authorized equipment and | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Home-server projects | Running personal services on one's own computing equipment. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Homebrewing beer | Making beer as a permitted home-production hobby. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Hoop dance | Combining dance movements with one or more hoops. | Dance and movement arts |
| Horse riding | Riding horses for recreation or skill development. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Horse showing | Preparing and presenting horses in organized classes or exhibitions. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Horse training as a pastime | Developing a horse's handling and riding skills through suitable | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Horseshoes | Throwing horseshoe-shaped objects toward stakes. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Hosting dinner parties | Planning meals and gatherings for invited guests. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Hosting game nights | Organizing social gatherings centered on games. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Hot-air ballooning | Flying in a balloon lifted by heated air. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Hot-chocolate making | Creating and comparing chocolate-based drinks. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Houseplant keeping | Growing plants inside living spaces. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Hula | Learning Hawaiian hula movement, songs, and cultural context. | Dance and movement arts |
| Humor writing | Creating amusing stories, essays, sketches, or observations. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Hurling | Playing the Irish field sport using sticks and a small ball. | Team sports and group field games |
| Hydroponic gardening | Growing plants without soil using nutrient solutions. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
I
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Iaido | Practicing controlled sword-drawing forms within established traditions. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Ice climbing | Climbing frozen features using specialized equipment and techniques. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Ice dancing | Performing partnered or solo dance patterns on ice. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Ice fishing | Angling through openings in suitable frozen water surfaces. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Ice hockey | Playing hockey on ice with skates, sticks, and a puck. | Team sports and group field games |
| Ice sailing | Riding sail-powered craft fitted with runners on suitable ice. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Ice sculpture | Carving artistic forms from ice. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Ice skating | Moving across ice on bladed skates. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Ice-cream making | Developing frozen desserts using dairy or alternative bases. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Ikebana | Practicing Japanese flower-arranging traditions. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Illuminated lettering | Decorating letters and pages with elaborate borders, color, or gold | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Improvisational theater | Creating scenes and characters without a fixed script. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Indian sweet making | Preparing sweets such as laddus, barfi, and regional desserts. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Indoor climbing | Climbing artificial walls and routes in purpose-built facilities. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Indoor cycling | Using a stationary bicycle for structured riding sessions. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Indoor rowing | Practicing rowing movement on a rowing machine. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Indoor skydiving | Practicing body flight inside a vertical wind tunnel. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Industrial-history study | Exploring manufacturing, engineering, and industrial communities of the | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Inkle weaving | Making narrow woven bands, often on an inkle loom. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Inline skating | Skating on boots with wheels arranged in a single line. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Insect observation | Studying insects in their environments. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Insect-specimen collecting | Collecting and documenting lawful specimens for entomological study. | Collecting and collection study · compare entomology |
| Instant photography | Making photographs with cameras that produce physical prints immediately. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Instrument building | Making playable musical instruments from chosen materials. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Interactive storytelling design | Building experiences in which user choices shape a narrative. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Interactive-fiction writing | Creating stories shaped by reader or player choices. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Interior-design planning | Developing layouts and design schemes for rooms. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| International-cuisine exploration | Preparing foods associated with different countries and | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Invertebrate keeping | Caring for suitable captive insects, arachnids, or other invertebrates. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Irish dance | Practicing Irish solo or group dance traditions. | Dance and movement arts |
J
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Jacks and five-stones games | Playing coordination games involving tossing and gathering small | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Jam and jelly making | Making fruit spreads using appropriate tested preservation methods. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Jam sessions | Making informal music with other musicians. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Japanese tea practice | Studying and practicing Japanese tea preparation and presentation. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Jazz dance | Practicing dance styles associated with jazz and theatrical performance. | Dance and movement arts |
| Jewelry collecting | Collecting jewelry by design, material, maker, or period. | Collecting and collection study |
| Jewelry making | Designing and assembling decorative wearable objects. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Jigsaw puzzles | Assembling interlocking pieces to complete a picture or form. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Jogging | Running at a comfortable, sustained pace. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Judo | Practicing throws, holds, and other techniques of judo. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Juggling | Keeping objects moving through repeated throws, catches, or balances. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Jump-rope practice | Developing rhythmic skipping skills with a rope. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Junk journaling | Making creative journals with reused papers and assorted materials. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
K
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| K-pop dance covers | Learning and performing choreography from Korean popular music. | Dance and movement arts |
| Kabaddi | Playing the team tag-and-grapple sport involving alternating raids. | Team sports and group field games |
| Kakuro | Solving numerical grids using sum clues and nonrepeating digits. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Kalaripayattu | Practicing the Indian martial tradition associated with Kerala. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Kalimba playing | Playing a thumb piano with tuned metal tines. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Kantha stitching | Practicing running-stitch embroidery associated with Bengal's textile | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Karaoke | Singing along to recorded musical accompaniment. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Karate | Practicing the striking techniques, forms, and training methods of karate. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Karting | Driving small racing karts on designated tracks. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Kathak | Learning the Indian classical dance form known for storytelling and footwork. | Dance and movement arts |
| Kathakali | Learning the Kerala dance-drama tradition combining movement, expression, and | Dance and movement arts |
| Kayaking | Paddling a kayak using a double-bladed paddle. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Kendama | Practicing catches and balances with a traditional cup-and-ball toy. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Kendo | Practicing Japanese swordsmanship with protective equipment and bamboo swords. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| KenKen-style puzzles | Completing arithmetic grid puzzles with marked numerical constraints. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Keyboard building | Assembling and customizing computer keyboards. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Keyboard playing | Performing music on electronic keyboards. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Kho-kho | Playing the team chasing game with alternating seated and active defenders. | Team sports and group field games |
| Kickball | Playing a baseball-like game in which the ball is kicked. | Team sports and group field games |
| Kickboxing | Practicing sporting combinations of punches and kicks. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Kinetic sculpture | Making sculptures designed to move. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Kintsugi-inspired repair | Practicing decorative repair that highlights breaks in ceramic objects. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Kirigami | Creating paper designs through cutting and folding. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Kitchenware collecting | Collecting cooking and serving objects by design or era. | Collecting and collection study |
| Kite flying | Launching and controlling kites for recreation or display. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Kite making | Designing and constructing kites for display or flight. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Kitesurfing | Riding a board while powered by a controllable kite. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Knitting | Creating fabric by forming interlocking loops of yarn with needles. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Kolam | Drawing traditional geometric floor patterns, often using rice flour or powder. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Kombucha brewing | Culturing sweetened tea into kombucha using established food-safe methods. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Koto playing | Playing the Japanese plucked zither. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Kubb | Playing a lawn game involving thrown batons and wooden blocks. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Kuchipudi | Learning the Indian classical dance tradition associated with Andhra Pradesh. | Dance and movement arts |
| Kumihimo | Making decorative braids using Japanese braiding techniques. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Kung fu | Practicing one or more Chinese martial-arts traditions. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
L
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Labeorphily | Collecting beer-bottle labels. | Collecting and collection study |
| Lace knitting | Using increases and decreases to create openwork patterns. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Lacrosse | Playing a team game using netted sticks to carry and pass a ball. | Team sports and group field games |
| Lampworking | Shaping small glass objects in a focused flame. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Landscape painting | Depicting outdoor scenery in paint. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Landscape photography | Photographing natural or human-shaped scenery. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Language exchange | Practicing languages through reciprocal conversation with other learners. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Language learning | Learning to understand, speak, read, or write another language. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Language-cafe participation | Practicing conversation in informal language-focused social | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Lapidary tumbling | Smoothing and polishing stones in a tumbler. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Laser tag | Playing electronic tag games with light-based scoring equipment. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Laser-cutting projects | Designing and producing objects with a suitable laser-cutting service or | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Latch hooking | Knotting short yarn pieces onto a mesh to make rugs or pictures. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Latte art | Pouring milk into coffee to create decorative patterns. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Lawn bowls | Rolling biased balls toward a smaller target ball. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Leather bag making | Making bags, pouches, wallets, and related leather accessories. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Leather tooling | Pressing or carving decorative designs into leather. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Leathercraft | Cutting, shaping, stitching, and decorating leather. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| LED art | Creating decorative or interactive displays with light-emitting diodes. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Leisure travel | Visiting places for enjoyment, curiosity, or cultural experience. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Lepidopterology | Collecting and studying butterflies and moths. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Letter writing | Writing personal correspondence as a sustained leisure activity. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Letterboxing | Finding hidden boxes through clues and collecting their stamp impressions. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Letterpress printing | Printing from raised type or images with a press. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Lexicography as a pastime | Compiling and describing words in personal dictionaries or glossaries. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Library volunteering | Supporting suitable activities in a library's volunteer program. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Lifesaving sport | Practicing organized sporting events based on water-rescue skills. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Light painting | Creating photographs using moving lights during long exposures. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Lighthouse visiting | Exploring accessible lighthouses and their coastal settings. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Lindy hop | Practicing the partnered swing dance known as Lindy hop. | Dance and movement arts |
| Line dancing | Performing repeated sequences in lines without fixed partners. | Dance and movement arts |
| Linguistics as a pastime | Exploring how human languages are structured and used. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Linocut printing | Carving linoleum blocks and printing their raised surfaces. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Linux exploration | Learning and customizing Linux-based computing systems. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Literary criticism as a pastime | Exploring how literary works create meaning and effect. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Literary quotation collecting | Keeping a curated collection of passages and quotations. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Live-action role-playing | Acting out game characters and scenarios in shared physical | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing · also LARP |
| Living-history interpretation | Demonstrating historical clothing, crafts, and activities for | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Local sightseeing | Visiting interesting places near one's home. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Local-history research | Investigating the people, places, and events of one's community. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Locksport | Solving mechanical lock challenges using locks one owns or is authorized to use. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Logic-grid puzzles | Matching sets of information through deduction. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Long-distance walking | Completing extended walking routes over multiple days or stages. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Longboarding | Riding longer skateboards for cruising, carving, or other disciplines. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Loom knitting | Making knitted fabric with pegs on a knitting loom. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Lotology | Collecting lottery tickets, used and unused. | Collecting and collection study |
| Loudspeaker building | Designing and assembling speaker enclosures and systems. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Ludo | Playing a dice-based race game on a cross-shaped board. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Lunar observing | Studying the Moon's visible features and changes. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Lure making | Designing and making artificial fishing lures. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Luthiery | Making or repairing stringed musical instruments. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
M
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Machine knitting | Creating knitted fabric with a knitting machine. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Machine sewing | Using a sewing machine to create or alter textile items. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Machine-learning experiments | Exploring models using suitable public or personally authorized | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Machinima | Creating films using game engines or virtual-world footage. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Macrame | Creating decorative textiles by knotting cords. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Macro photography | Making close-up photographs of small subjects. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Madhubani painting | Practicing the patterned pictorial tradition associated with Bihar's Mithila | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Magazine collecting | Collecting periodicals related to selected subjects or eras. | Collecting and collection study |
| Magic tricks | Practicing and performing illusions for entertainment. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills · also prestidigitation |
| Mahjong | Playing a tile-based game that forms specified sets and hands. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Makerspace participation | Sharing tools, skills, and personal projects in a community workshop. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Makeup artistry | Practicing cosmetic looks and creative facial designs. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Mallakhamb | Practicing gymnastic balances and movements on a pole or suspended rope. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Mancala games | Playing traditional games based on distributing and capturing counters. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Mandala drawing | Creating circular, symmetrical, or radiating designs. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Mandolin playing | Playing the mandolin and its repertoire. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Manipuri dance | Learning classical and related dance traditions associated with Manipur. | Dance and movement arts |
| Map collecting | Collecting and studying printed maps and atlases. | Collecting and collection study |
| Marbles | Playing skill games with small spherical playing pieces. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Marcophily | Collecting postmarks, cancellations and other postal markings. | Collecting and collection study |
| Marine fishkeeping | Maintaining a saltwater aquarium for appropriate marine fish. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Marine-biology study | Learning about marine organisms and ecosystems. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Marquetry | Creating images or patterns with fitted pieces of veneer. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Mask making | Creating decorative or wearable masks. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Matchstick modeling | Making models from matchsticks or similar small wooden pieces. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Mathematical origami | Exploring mathematical ideas through paper folding. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Mathematical puzzles | Solving recreational problems involving numbers, patterns, or geometry. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Maze solving and design | Navigating or creating branching path puzzles. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Mead making | Fermenting honey-based beverages where permitted. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Mechanical model building | Constructing miniature engines, machines, or moving mechanisms. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Mechanical prototyping | Building experimental mechanisms to explore design ideas. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Mechanical puzzles | Manipulating physical objects to solve a structural challenge. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Meditation | Practicing sustained attention or other established contemplative methods. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Meetup participation | Joining recurring social groups centered on common interests. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Mehndi design | Creating temporary decorative designs with henna. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Memoir writing | Writing about selected experiences from one's life. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Memory sports | Practicing the memorization of sequences, names, images, or other material. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Memory-book making | Creating a written and illustrated record of meaningful experiences. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Mental arithmetic | Practicing calculations without external calculating tools. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Mentoring | Offering sustained guidance in a subject or skill through a suitable program. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Metal casting | Pouring molten metal into molds in an appropriate workshop. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Metal detecting | Searching for metal objects where access and detecting are permitted. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Metal embossing | Raising or pressing decorative designs in sheet metal. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Metal engraving | Cutting lettering or designs into metal surfaces. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Metalworking | Shaping and joining metal for practical or artistic projects. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Meteor observing | Watching and recording meteor activity. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Microcontroller projects | Programming small controllers to operate sensors, displays, and | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Microgreen growing | Growing edible seedlings for harvest at a young stage. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Microscopy | Exploring small objects and organisms with a microscope. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Military-history study | Studying past military organizations, conflicts, and experiences. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Millinery | Designing and making hats and headwear. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Mime | Expressing actions and emotions through silent physical performance. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Mindful walking | Walking while deliberately attending to movement and surroundings. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Mindfulness practice | Practicing deliberate attention to present experience. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Mineralogy study | Learning to identify and understand minerals. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Miniature golf | Playing golf-like putting courses with short holes and obstacles. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Miniature painting | Painting small figures, vehicles, or scenic objects. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Miniature wargaming | Playing tactical games with miniature figures and terrain. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Miniature-object collecting | Collecting small-scale objects organized around a chosen theme. | Collecting and collection study |
| Mixed-media art | Combining different artistic materials within one work. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Mobile gaming | Playing digital games on phones or tablets. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Mobile-app development | Creating applications for phones and tablets. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Mobility practice | Working on controlled joint movement and usable range of motion. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Mocktail making | Designing mixed drinks without alcohol. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Model aircraft building | Constructing miniature aircraft for display or flight. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Model car building | Assembling and detailing miniature automobiles. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Model engineering | Building working miniature machinery and engineering models. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Model railway building | Creating model railways with trains, tracks, and scenery. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Model rocketry | Building and launching model rockets using appropriate commercial systems. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Model ship building | Building miniature sailing ships, boats, and other vessels. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Model-train collecting | Collecting model railway locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories. | Collecting and collection study |
| Modern dance | Practicing techniques and traditions associated with modern dance. | Dance and movement arts |
| Modular origami | Combining multiple folded paper units into larger structures. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Mohiniyattam | Learning the Indian classical dance tradition associated with Kerala. | Dance and movement arts |
| Monotype printing | Making usually unique prints from inked or painted surfaces. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Morse code practice | Learning to send and recognize Morse-coded signals. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Mosaic making | Arranging small pieces of glass, ceramic, stone, or other materials. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Moss and lichen study | Observing and identifying mosses and lichens. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Moss gardening | Cultivating mosses as part of designed plant displays. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Moth watching | Observing and identifying moths. | Nature observation and field natural history · compare lepidopterology |
| Motion graphics | Animating designed text, shapes, and graphic elements. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Motocross | Riding motorcycles on closed off-road circuits. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Motorcycle restoration | Rebuilding and preserving older motorcycles. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Motorcycle touring | Taking extended journeys by motorcycle. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Motorcycle trials | Riding obstacle sections while demonstrating balance and control. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Motorsport spectating | Following races, teams, vehicles, and motorsport events. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Mountain biking | Riding bicycles on off-road trails and terrain. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Mountainboarding | Riding large-wheeled boards on suitable off-road terrain. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Mountaineering | Climbing mountains using hiking, climbing, or snow-travel skills. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Mounted archery | Practicing target archery while riding a horse. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Mridangam playing | Playing the double-headed drum prominent in Carnatic music. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Muay Thai | Practicing the striking sport using punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Multiplayer online gaming | Playing shared digital games with people over a network. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Mural painting | Creating large artworks on walls or other architectural surfaces with permission. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Murder-mystery games | Playing social deduction and role-based fictional mysteries. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Museum visiting | Exploring museum collections and exhibitions. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Museum volunteering | Supporting museum activities through an organized volunteer program. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Museum-object research | Investigating the history and context of objects in museum collections. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Mushroom cultivation | Growing correctly identified cultivated mushroom species. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Music appreciation | Studying and discussing musical styles, structures, and performances. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Music arranging | Adapting existing music for different performers or settings. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Music composition | Writing original instrumental, vocal, or electronic music. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Music listening | Actively exploring recordings, performers, genres, and musical works. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Music memorabilia collecting | Collecting objects associated with musicians, performances, and | Collecting and collection study |
| Music theory study | Exploring musical harmony, rhythm, form, and notation. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Music-history study | Exploring musical traditions and their development over time. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Musical theater | Combining acting, singing, and dance in staged productions. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Musical-instrument collecting | Collecting and studying musical instruments. | Collecting and collection study |
| Mycophily | Finding, identifying and recording wild fungi. | Nature observation and field natural history · also amateur mycology, mushroom hunting |
| Mythology study | Exploring mythic narratives and their cultural contexts. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
N
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Nail art | Creating decorative designs on nails. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| National-park visiting | Exploring national parks and their natural or cultural features. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Native-plant gardening | Growing plants native to one's region. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Natural dyeing | Coloring fibers with dyes obtained from natural materials. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Nature journaling | Recording observations through notes, sketches, and other records. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Nature writing | Writing about landscapes, wildlife, and relationships with nature. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Nature-sound listening | Paying sustained attention to natural soundscapes. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Navigation practice | Developing map-reading, compass, and route-finding skills. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Needle felting | Shaping loose fibers by repeatedly working them with barbed needles. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Needle lace | Creating lace with a needle and thread. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Needlepoint | Stitching designs onto an open-weave canvas. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Netball | Playing a passing and shooting team game with designated player positions. | Team sports and group field games |
| Newsletter publishing | Producing a recurring publication about a personal interest. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Night photography | Making photographs in low-light or nighttime conditions. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Nonfiction reading | Reading factual accounts, explanations, and arguments. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Nonograms | Revealing pictures by filling grid cells according to number clues. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Noodle making | Preparing noodles from different flours and doughs. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Nordic walking | Walking with poles using coordinated technique. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Notaphily | Collecting and studying paper currency. | Collecting and collection study · also banknote collecting |
| Novel writing | Developing longer fictional narratives. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Numismatics | Collecting and studying coins and related monetary objects. | Collecting and collection study · also coin collecting |
| Nuno felting | Felting wool fibers into a fabric base. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
O
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Oboe playing | Playing music on the oboe. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Obstacle-course racing | Running courses that include physical obstacles. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Ocarina playing | Playing the ocarina, a vessel-shaped wind instrument. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Odissi | Learning the Indian classical dance tradition associated with Odisha. | Dance and movement arts |
| Oenophily | Learning about wine styles, production, and tasting. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies · also wine appreciation, oenophilia |
| Off-road driving | Driving suitable vehicles on permitted unpaved terrain. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Off-road motorcycling | Riding motorcycles on permitted off-road routes or tracks. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Oil painting | Painting with pigments suspended in drying oils. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Olympic weightlifting | Practicing the snatch and clean-and-jerk lifts. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Online-course learning | Taking courses for curiosity and personal enrichment. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Oology | Collecting and studying birds’ eggs; taking wild birds’ eggs is now illegal in many countries, so the hobby survives mainly through old collections. | Collecting and collection study · also egg collecting |
| Open-mic participation | Sharing music, comedy, poetry, or stories at public performance sessions. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Open-source contributing | Helping develop publicly shared software, documentation, or design | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Open-water swimming | Swimming in suitable lakes, rivers, or coastal waters. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| OpenStreetMap contributing | Adding or improving openly shared geographic map information. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Opera appreciation | Exploring and attending opera recordings or performances. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Optics experiments | Exploring lenses, mirrors, light, and image formation. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Oral storytelling | Sharing narratives aloud for an audience. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Oral-history interviewing | Recording people's memories and personal accounts with their consent. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Orchard keeping | Caring for a collection of fruit or nut trees. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Orchestra participation | Playing as part of an amateur orchestral ensemble. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Orchid growing | Cultivating orchids suited to one's growing conditions. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Organ playing | Playing pipe or electronic organs. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Orienteering | Navigating between checkpoints using a map and compass. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Origami | Folding paper into figures and geometric forms. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Outdoor scavenger hunts | Following clues or finding specified objects in an outdoor setting. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Outdoor-oven cooking | Cooking with wood-fired or other outdoor ovens. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Outrigger canoeing | Paddling a canoe stabilized by an outrigger. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Overlanding | Taking extended, vehicle-based journeys with an emphasis on self-supported travel. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Overtone singing | Emphasizing vocal overtones as part of a musical technique. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
P
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Pachisi | Playing the traditional Indian cross-and-circle race game. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Packrafting | Traveling by lightweight inflatable raft, often combined with hiking. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Padel | Playing a doubles racket sport on an enclosed court. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Paint-by-number art | Completing paintings by following numbered color sections. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Paintball | Playing organized team games using paint-marking equipment. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Paleography | Learning to read handwriting from earlier periods. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Paleontology study | Exploring fossils and the history of past life. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Pallankuzhi | Playing a South Indian mancala game using pits and counters. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Paper automata | Building paper models with simple moving mechanisms. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Paper cutting | Cutting decorative shapes, silhouettes, or scenes from paper. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Paper marbling | Creating swirling surface patterns that transfer onto paper. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Paper quilling | Rolling and arranging narrow paper strips into decorative designs. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Paper sculpture | Building three-dimensional artworks from paper. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Paper-bead making | Rolling and finishing paper to create beads. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Paper-flower making | Constructing flowers from paper or crepe paper. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Paper-model building | Assembling printed or designed paper parts into three-dimensional models. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Papier-mache | Shaping objects from paper and adhesive. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Para badminton | Playing badminton within an adapted classification or format. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Paracord crafting | Making bracelets, handles, and other objects from utility cord. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Paragliding | Flying a foot-launched, flexible fabric wing. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Paramotoring | Flying a paraglider with a motorized propulsion unit. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Parkour | Moving through obstacles with running, jumping, climbing, and vaulting skills. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Party board games | Playing accessible tabletop games designed for social groups. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Pasta making | Making fresh pasta and experimenting with shapes and fillings. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Pastel art | Drawing or painting with soft, hard, or oil pastels. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Pastry making | Creating pastries from laminated, short, or other doughs. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Patchwork | Combining fabric pieces into decorative designs. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Pattachitra painting | Practicing traditional painted storytelling, notably associated with | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Pattern drafting | Designing sewing patterns for clothing or other fabric objects. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| PC gaming | Playing digital games on personal computers. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Pen-and-ink drawing | Making images with ink lines, dots, and washes. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Pen-pal correspondence | Maintaining friendships through exchanged letters or messages. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Pencil collecting | Collecting pencils by maker, material, advertising, or design. | Collecting and collection study |
| Pencil sketching | Drawing subjects with graphite pencils, often as quick studies. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Perfume blending | Creating fragrance blends for personal enjoyment. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Perfume-bottle collecting | Collecting bottles for their design, maker, or historical interest. | Collecting and collection study |
| Permaculture gardening | Applying permaculture design ideas to a garden. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Personal data projects | Collecting and exploring data about topics of personal interest. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Personal essay writing | Exploring experiences and ideas in reflective prose. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Personal recipe-book making | Organizing recipes and family food stories into a personal | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Personal reflection journaling | Writing about experiences, values, and personal observations. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Personal website maintenance | Creating and updating a website about one's interests. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Personal-watercraft riding | Riding a recreational powered watercraft on permitted waters. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Pet keeping | Caring for companion animals at home. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Pet photography projects | Documenting companion animals through sustained photographic projects. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Petanque | Throwing boules from a stationary position toward a small target ball. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Phaleristics | Collecting and researching medals and commemorative awards. | Collecting and collection study · also medal collecting, faleristics |
| Phenology recording | Recording seasonal events such as flowering and bird migration. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Philately | Collecting and studying postage stamps and related postal material. | Collecting and collection study · also stamp collecting |
| Phillumeny | Collecting match packaging and its printed designs. | Collecting and collection study · also matchbox and matchbook collecting, cumyxaphily (matchboxes) |
| Philography | Collecting authenticated signatures or signed objects. | Collecting and collection study · also autograph collecting |
| Philosophy study | Examining questions about knowledge, ethics, reality, and reasoning. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Photo editing | Adjusting and creatively transforming digital photographs. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Photo restoration | Repairing or digitally restoring damaged photographic images. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Photography | Making photographs for creative expression, documentation, or enjoyment. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Photomontage | Combining photographic elements into a new composition. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Physics demonstrations | Building or studying suitable demonstrations of physical principles. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Piano playing | Playing music on an acoustic or digital piano. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Pichwai painting | Studying and practicing devotional painting associated with Krishna traditions. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Pickleball | Playing a paddle-and-ball sport on a netted court. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Pickling | Preserving or flavoring foods in suitable brines or acidic mixtures. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Picnicking | Planning and enjoying outdoor meals as a recurring leisure activity. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Pie and tart making | Preparing filled pastry dishes, sweet or savory. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Pilates | Practicing controlled movement exercises based on Pilates methods. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Pin and badge collecting | Collecting small wearable pins, badges, and emblems. | Collecting and collection study |
| Pinball | Playing mechanical or digital games that control a ball with flippers. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Pinhole photography | Making images through a tiny aperture without a conventional lens. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Pinochle | Playing a card game involving melds and trick taking. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Pixel art | Creating images through deliberate placement of individual digital pixels. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Pizza making | Developing and baking pizza doughs with chosen toppings. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Planetary observing | Observing planets and their visible features. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Plangonology | Collecting and researching dolls and their makers. | Collecting and collection study · also doll collecting |
| Plant breeding | Selecting and crossing plants to explore inherited traits. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Plant grafting | Joining compatible plant parts so they grow together. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Plant propagation | Producing new plants from seeds, cuttings, divisions, or other methods. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Plaster casting | Making cast forms in plaster using molds. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Plate spinning | Balancing and rotating plates on sticks or other supports. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Platform gaming | Playing games centered on movement through platforms and obstacles. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Playing-card collecting | Collecting decks by design, maker, or historical interest. | Collecting and collection study |
| Playlist curation | Assembling music selections around moods, themes, or occasions. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Playwriting | Writing scripts for theatrical performance. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Plein-air painting | Painting outdoors while directly observing a scene. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Podcast listening | Following audio programs about chosen topics. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Podcasting | Producing episodic audio programs about chosen subjects. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Poetry reading | Reading and discussing poems and poetic traditions. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Poetry writing | Composing verse or other concentrated poetic language. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Poetry-slam participation | Performing poems in organized spoken-word competitions. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Poi spinning | Creating movement patterns with tethered weights or performance props. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Pointillism | Building pictures from many small dots of color. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Poker | Playing card games based on ranked hands and strategic decisions. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Pole dance | Practicing dance and acrobatic movement around a vertical pole. | Dance and movement arts |
| Political-history study | Studying political ideas, institutions, and movements over time. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Pollinator gardening | Planting and maintaining habitat that supports pollinating animals. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Polo | Playing a mounted team game with mallets and a ball. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Polocrosse | Playing a mounted team sport using netted rackets and a ball. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Polymer-clay jewelry | Making wearable ornaments from polymer clay. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Polymer-clay modeling | Shaping objects from polymer clay and curing them as directed. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Pom-pom and tassel making | Creating decorative yarn or thread embellishments. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Pond fishkeeping | Caring for fish in appropriately managed outdoor ponds. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Pony-club activities | Participating in organized riding and horse-care activities. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Pool | Playing pocket billiards with cues and numbered balls. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Pop-up card making | Building cards with elements that rise when opened. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Porcelain painting | Decorating porcelain objects with painted designs. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Portrait drawing and painting | Depicting the appearance and character of people. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Portrait photography | Photographing people with attention to character, pose, and lighting. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Postal-history collecting | Collecting letters, covers, cancellations, and other evidence of | Collecting and collection study |
| Postcard exchanges | Sending and receiving postcards with other enthusiasts. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Poster collecting | Collecting printed posters for art, advertising, events, or other interests. | Collecting and collection study |
| Potluck organizing | Coordinating social meals with shared food contributions. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Potpourri making | Combining dried aromatic materials for decorative fragrance. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Pottery | Making functional or decorative objects from clay. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Poultry keeping | Keeping chickens or other domestic poultry as a leisure interest. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Power walking | Walking briskly as a recreational exercise practice. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Powerlifting | Training the squat, bench press, and deadlift as a sport. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Pressed-flower art | Arranging preserved flowers and leaves into artwork. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Pressed-plant collecting | Preparing and documenting permitted plant specimens in a personal | Collecting and collection study |
| Print collecting | Collecting original or reproduced artistic prints. | Collecting and collection study |
| Procedural modeling | Generating digital objects and environments through defined rules. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Public speaking | Practicing prepared or impromptu speaking for an audience. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Public-art exploration | Finding and studying murals, sculptures, and other public artworks. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Public-lecture attendance | Attending talks to explore subjects outside work or formal study. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Public-transit exploration | Exploring transport networks and neighborhoods by public transit. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Pump-track riding | Riding a rolling track by generating momentum through body movement. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Punch-needle embroidery | Making looped designs by pushing thread or yarn through fabric. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Puppet making | Building puppets for performance or display. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Puppetry | Performing stories or movements with puppets. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Puzzle boxes | Solving hidden opening mechanisms in crafted boxes. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Puzzle collecting | Collecting mechanical, jigsaw, or other puzzle objects. | Collecting and collection study |
| Puzzle hunts | Solving linked puzzles that lead to larger answers or discoveries. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Puzzle video games | Playing digital games focused on solving puzzles. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Pyrography | Drawing decorative designs by burning marks into wood. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
Q
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Qigong | Practicing movement, posture, and breathing within qigong traditions. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Quilting | Joining layers of fabric with stitching to create quilts and related items. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Quiz competitions | Answering general-knowledge or specialist questions in organized contests. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Quoits | Throwing rings toward a target or peg. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
R
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Racewalking | Practicing the regulated athletic walking discipline. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Racing simulation | Practicing virtual driving in racing simulation games. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Racquetball | Playing a racket sport with a hollow rubber ball in a court. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Radio astronomy | Studying astronomical radio signals with suitable receiving equipment. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Radio collecting | Collecting radios and studying their designs or histories. | Collecting and collection study |
| Radio direction finding | Locating radio transmitters through signal measurements. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Radio-drama writing | Creating stories intended for audio performance. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Rafting | Traveling rivers in an inflatable raft. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Rail travel | Taking leisure journeys by train. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Rainwater-garden projects | Designing small garden projects that manage rainfall where | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Raised-bed gardening | Growing plants in beds raised above surrounding ground. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Rangoli | Creating decorative floor designs with colored powders, flowers, or similar materials. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Rapping | Performing rhymed lyrics in rhythm over a beat. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Rare-book collecting | Collecting and studying scarce or historically significant books. | Collecting and collection study |
| Read-aloud groups | Sharing books or poems through live reading. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Recipe collecting and testing | Curating recipes and preparing them to compare results. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Recipe development | Inventing, testing, and refining original recipes. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Recorder playing | Playing music on recorders of different sizes. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Recreational cryptography | Creating and solving ciphers as mathematical or language puzzles. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Recreational cycling | Riding bicycles for enjoyment, exploration, or exercise. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Recreational fishing | Catching fish as a leisure activity. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Recreational flying | Piloting aircraft for leisure under the applicable training and licensing | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Recreational hunting | Pursuing lawful game as a regulated outdoor leisure activity. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Recreational list making | Creating organized lists about favorite subjects or personal interests. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Recreational mathematics | Exploring mathematical ideas for pleasure. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Recreational motorcycling | Riding motorcycles for leisure. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Recreational problem posing | Inventing original puzzles and challenges for others. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Recreational reading | Reading for pleasure, curiosity, or personal enrichment. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Recreational running | Running for enjoyment, fitness, or personal goals. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Recreational swimming | Swimming for enjoyment and personal challenge. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Recreational tree climbing | Climbing trees using suitable climbing methods and equipment. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Recreational-vehicle touring | Traveling and staying in a campervan, motorhome, or travel trailer. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Recumbent cycling | Riding bicycles or tricycles with a reclined seating position. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Reef keeping | Caring for suitable corals and associated aquarium organisms. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Regional-cuisine exploration | Learning dishes and techniques from particular regions. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Reining | Performing precise maneuvers with a horse in a prescribed pattern. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Remote-control aircraft flying | Piloting model aircraft by radio control. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Remote-control boat sailing | Operating model boats or sailing craft remotely. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Remote-control car driving | Operating miniature cars by radio control. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Remote-control helicopter flying | Operating model helicopters by radio control. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Renewable-energy models | Building small educational solar, wind, or other energy demonstrations. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Repair-cafe participation | Working with others on community repair projects. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Reptile and amphibian watching | Observing wild reptiles and amphibians without disturbing | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Resin casting | Casting decorative objects in suitable resins and molds. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Retro gaming | Playing and exploring older video games and systems. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Retrocomputing | Using, studying, or recreating older computer systems. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Rhythm gaming | Playing games that coordinate actions with musical timing. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Ribbon embroidery | Embroidering with ribbons to create dimensional designs. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Riddle solving | Working out answers to indirect or deliberately puzzling questions. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Rigid-heddle weaving | Weaving fabric on a loom with a combined heddle and reed. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Road cycling | Riding primarily on paved roads. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Road trips | Exploring routes and destinations by road vehicle. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Robot competitions | Preparing robots for organized challenges or matches. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Rock and mineral collecting | Building documented collections of legally obtained geological | Collecting and collection study |
| Rock climbing | Ascending rock faces or climbing structures using established techniques. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Rock gardening | Growing plants among rocks in designed garden settings. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Rock painting | Decorating stones with pictures, patterns, or lettering. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Rockhounding | Finding and studying rocks and minerals where collecting is allowed. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Role-playing video games | Playing games centered on characters, progression, and story. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Roller derby | Playing a team contact sport on roller skates. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Roller hockey | Playing a form of hockey on roller or inline skates. | Team sports and group field games |
| Roller skating | Skating on traditional quad roller skates. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Ropework | Splicing, whipping, and working rope for practical or decorative projects. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Rose growing | Cultivating and studying roses. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Rounders | Playing a bat-and-ball game involving running around posts or bases. | Team sports and group field games |
| Rowing | Propelling a boat using oars attached to the craft. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Rubber stamping | Using inked stamps to decorate paper and other surfaces. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Rube Goldberg machines | Designing deliberately elaborate chains of actions to perform simple | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Rug hooking | Pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a backing. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Rugby league | Playing the league form of rugby football. | Team sports and group field games |
| Rugby union | Playing the union form of rugby football. | Team sports and group field games |
| Rummikub | Playing a tile game based on forming sets and runs. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Rummy | Playing card games based on forming matching sets and sequences. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
S
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Sailing | Controlling a wind-powered boat for recreation or sport. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Salsa dancing | Dancing salsa socially or in performance. | Dance and movement arts |
| Sand sculpture | Shaping sand into temporary sculptural forms. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Sandboarding | Riding a board down sand slopes. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Sandbox gaming | Playing games that allow open-ended building and exploration. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Sarod playing | Playing the fretless plucked-string sarod. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Sashiko | Practicing Japanese decorative running-stitch work. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Satellite reception | Receiving suitable satellite transmissions with personal radio equipment. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Satellite spotting | Observing artificial satellites moving across the sky. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Sattriya | Learning the classical dance tradition associated with Assam. | Dance and movement arts |
| Sauce making | Creating sauces, condiments, and dressings. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Saxophone playing | Playing music on the saxophone. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Scale modeling | Building reduced-size representations of real or imagined subjects. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Scenic ferry travel | Exploring waterways and destinations through ferry journeys. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Scherenschnitte | Practicing decorative paper cutting associated with German-speaking traditions. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Science-club participation | Discussing and investigating scientific topics with fellow | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Scientific illustration | Creating explanatory drawings of scientific subjects. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Scientific-model building | Making physical or digital models to understand scientific ideas. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Scooter riding | Riding nonmotorized scooters for recreation or tricks. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Scottish country dancing | Dancing patterned social dances in sets. | Dance and movement arts |
| Scrabble | Playing the word-building board game with scored letter tiles. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Scrambling | Traveling over steep terrain that requires both hands and feet. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Scrapbooking | Arranging photographs, writing, and keepsakes in decorated albums. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Scratchboard art | Scratching through a dark coating to reveal lighter marks beneath. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Screen printing | Transferring ink through a prepared mesh screen. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Screenwriting | Writing scripts for film, television, or other screen media. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Scripophily | Collecting old stock and bond certificates. | Collecting and collection study |
| Scroll-saw work | Cutting intricate patterns from wood with a scroll saw. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Scuba diving | Exploring underwater using self-contained breathing equipment. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Sculpture | Creating three-dimensional art by shaping, assembling, or removing material. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Scutelliphily | Collecting embroidered or printed cloth patches. | Collecting and collection study · also patch collecting |
| Sea angling | Fishing in marine environments from shore or boats. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Sea kayaking | Kayaking on coastal or open marine waters. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Sea-glass collecting | Collecting glass fragments naturally weathered along shorelines where | Collecting and collection study |
| Seed collecting | Building labeled collections of permitted seeds for study or planting. | Collecting and collection study |
| Seed saving | Collecting and storing suitable seeds for future planting. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Self-publishing | Preparing and releasing one's own written work. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Sensor projects | Building systems that measure conditions such as light, temperature, or motion. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Sepak takraw | Playing a net game using feet and other permitted body parts. | Team sports and group field games |
| Sewing-machine restoration | Repairing and maintaining older sewing machines. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Shell craft | Making decorative objects from legally obtained shells. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Shell identification | Studying and identifying shells without requiring live collecting. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Shibori | Making patterned cloth through Japanese resist-dyeing techniques. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Ship spotting | Observing and recording ships and other vessels. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Ship-in-a-bottle making | Constructing and placing miniature ships inside bottles. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Shoe care and restoration | Cleaning, conditioning, and repairing suitable footwear. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Shogi | Playing Japanese chess with captured-piece reuse. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Short-film making | Creating short narrative or experimental films. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Short-story writing | Creating brief fictional narratives. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Shortwave listening | Receiving and identifying broadcasts and signals on shortwave frequencies. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Show jumping | Riding horses over a course of fences. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Shuffleboard | Sliding weighted discs toward scoring areas. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Sigillography | Collecting and studying seals and their impressions. | Collecting and collection study · also sphragistics |
| Sign painting | Painting letters and images on signs by hand. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Sign-language learning | Learning a sign language and its associated communication practices. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Silambam | Practicing the Tamil martial tradition known for staff techniques. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Silk painting | Painting decorative designs on silk fabric. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Silversmithing | Making objects or jewelry from silver. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Silverware collecting | Collecting silver or silver-plated tableware and decorative objects. | Collecting and collection study |
| Simulation gaming | Playing digital representations of activities, machines, or systems. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Singing | Practicing vocal music alone or with others. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Single-board-computer projects | Building projects around compact general-purpose computers. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Sitar playing | Playing the plucked-string sitar. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Sitting volleyball | Playing volleyball with seated movement and a lower net. | Team sports and group field games |
| Skateboarding | Riding a skateboard for cruising, tricks, or sport. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Sketch comedy | Creating short scripted comic scenes. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Ski touring | Traveling on skis with equipment suited to both ascent and descent. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Skijoring | Traveling on skis while being pulled by a trained animal or suitable vehicle. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Skill swapping | Exchanging instruction in different hobbies or practical skills. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Skimboarding | Gliding on a thin board across shallow water and approaching waves. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Skydiving | Jumping from aircraft and descending with a parachute. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Slacklining | Balancing and walking on a tensioned flexible line. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Sledding | Sliding downhill on a sled. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Slot-car racing | Racing powered miniature cars guided by slots in a track. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Slow travel | Spending extended time exploring a place at a relaxed pace. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Small-animal keeping | Caring for suitable domestic small mammals as a leisure interest. | Animal keeping, training and pet activities |
| Small-space design | Creating practical arrangements for compact living spaces. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Smocking | Gathering fabric with decorative stitches. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Smoothie making | Experimenting with blended fruit, vegetable, and other beverages. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Snakes and ladders | Playing the dice-based race game with upward and downward links. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Sneaker collecting | Collecting footwear by design, model, or cultural interest. | Collecting and collection study |
| Snooker | Playing the cue sport using red and colored balls. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Snorkeling | Observing underwater environments while breathing through a snorkel at the surface. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Snow sculpture | Shaping snow into figures, structures, or abstract forms. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Snow tubing | Sliding on snow in an inflatable tube. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Snow-globe collecting | Collecting decorative globes containing miniature scenes. | Collecting and collection study |
| Snowboarding | Riding snow slopes on a single board. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Snowkiting | Using a kite to travel over snow or ice on skis or a board. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Snowmobiling | Traveling over snow on a powered snowmobile. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Snowshoeing | Walking over snow using frames that spread body weight. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Soap carving | Carving decorative figures and patterns from soap. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Soap making | Producing personal or decorative soaps as a craft. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Social deduction games | Playing games involving hidden roles and inference about other players. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Softball | Playing the related bat-and-ball game with softball equipment and rules. | Team sports and group field games |
| Software-defined radio | Using software-controlled receivers to explore radio signals. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Solar cooking | Preparing food with devices that concentrate or retain sunlight. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Soldering projects | Joining electronic components for suitable hobby circuits. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Solitaire | Playing card games designed for one player. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing · also patience |
| Solo tabletop gaming | Playing tabletop games designed or adapted for one person. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Solo travel | Planning and taking leisure trips independently. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Songwriting | Creating original songs, including melodies and lyrics. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Sound design | Creating and manipulating sounds for artistic projects. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Sourdough baking | Making bread using a maintained sourdough culture. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Souvenir collecting | Collecting objects associated with travels and personal experiences. | Collecting and collection study |
| Spades | Playing a partnership trick-taking card game with spades as trumps. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Special-effects makeup | Creating character transformations and theatrical makeup effects. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Speed skating | Skating on ice with an emphasis on speed and racing. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Speed-reading practice | Practicing reading techniques while monitoring understanding. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Speedcubing | Solving twisty puzzles as quickly or efficiently as possible. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Speedrunning | Completing a game or defined challenge as quickly as possible. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Spelling competitions | Practicing word spelling and participating in spelling challenges. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Spelunking | Exploring caves with appropriate skills and equipment. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures · also caving, speleology |
| Spice blending | Developing mixtures of spices for cooking and seasoning. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Spinning-top tricks | Launching and manipulating spinning tops for skill or performance. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Splitboarding | Using a board that separates into ski-like halves for uphill travel. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Spoken-word performance | Presenting original or selected writing aloud with expressive delivery. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Spoon carving | Carving wooden spoons and related utensils. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Sports memorabilia collecting | Collecting objects associated with sports, teams, or athletes. | Collecting and collection study |
| Sports photography | Capturing sporting events, athletes, and movement. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Sports spectating | Watching sports and following teams, athletes, or competitions. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Sports video games | Playing digital representations of sports. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Spray-paint art | Making artwork with aerosol paints on permitted surfaces. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Square dancing | Performing social dance figures, usually guided by a caller. | Dance and movement arts |
| Squash | Playing the racket sport in a walled court. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Stage design | Designing scenery and visual environments for performances. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Stage lighting as a hobby | Designing and operating lighting for amateur performances. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Stage magic | Presenting illusions designed for a larger audience. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Stained-glass work | Joining colored glass pieces into decorative panels or objects. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Stamp carving | Carving reusable stamps for patterns and illustrations. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Stand-up comedy | Writing and performing humorous spoken routines. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Stand-up paddleboarding | Standing on a buoyant board and moving with a paddle. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Stargazing | Observing the night sky with unaided eyes or optical aids. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Stationery collecting | Collecting designed paper goods and writing accessories. | Collecting and collection study |
| Statistical exploration | Using statistics to investigate questions of personal interest. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Steelpan playing | Playing music on tuned steelpan instruments. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Still-life art | Drawing or painting arranged objects. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Still-life photography | Photographing arranged objects and compositions. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Stilt walking | Walking and performing while balanced on stilts. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Stippling | Using dots to create tone, texture, and shading. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Stone carving | Shaping stone with carving tools. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Stone skipping | Throwing suitable flat stones to bounce across a water surface. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Stop-motion animation | Animating physical objects through sequential photographs. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Strategic board games | Playing games emphasizing planning, resources, and long-term decisions. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Strategy gaming | Playing digital games based on planning and decision-making. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Street photography | Photographing everyday life in public places. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Strength training | Practicing progressive exercises intended to develop strength. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Stretching routines | Practicing deliberate flexibility exercises. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| String art | Creating patterns with thread stretched between fixed points. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Stuffed-toy making | Sewing and filling fabric animals, dolls, and other soft toys. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Stumpwork | Making raised, three-dimensional embroidery. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Succulent growing | Growing plants adapted to storing water in fleshy tissues. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Sucrology | Collecting sugar packets and wrappers. | Collecting and collection study |
| Sudoku | Completing number-placement grids according to row, column, and region constraints. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Sugarcraft | Shaping sugar-based materials into decorative forms. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Suminagashi | Marbling paper with floating ink patterns on water. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Surfing | Riding waves on a surfboard. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Survival gaming | Playing fictional games centered on resource management and survival challenges. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Sushi making | Preparing sushi rice and assembling different sushi styles. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Swing dancing | Practicing social dances associated with swing music. | Dance and movement arts |
| Synthesizer programming | Designing sounds with hardware or software synthesizers. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
T
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Tabla playing | Playing the paired hand drums used in South Asian music. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Table football | Controlling rows of miniature players to move a ball into goals. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports · also foosball |
| Table tennis | Playing the paddle sport across a small netted table. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Tablet weaving | Using pierced tablets to control threads and weave patterned bands. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Tabletop escape games | Solving linked puzzles presented through tabletop components. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Tabletop game design | Creating rules, components, and systems for original games. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Tabletop role-playing games | Creating shared adventures through characters, narration, and game | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
| Tabletop terrain building | Making landscapes and structures for miniature games. | Models, miniatures and remote-control hobbies |
| Taekwondo | Practicing the Korean martial art with prominent kicking techniques. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Tai chi | Practicing connected movement sequences and related tai chi training. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Tandem cycling | Riding a bicycle designed for two or more riders. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Tango | Learning Argentine or ballroom tango styles. | Dance and movement arts |
| Tangrams | Arranging geometric pieces to reproduce shapes and silhouettes. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Tap dance | Creating dance rhythms with metal-plated shoes. | Dance and movement arts |
| Tapestry weaving | Creating woven pictures or patterns with discontinuous colored wefts. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Target shooting | Practicing accuracy with lawful sporting firearms in suitable facilities. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Tarot imagery and history | Exploring tarot artwork, symbolism, and historical uses. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Tatting | Making lace from knots and loops using a shuttle or needle. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Taxidermy | Preserving and mounting legally obtained animal specimens for study or display. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Tea brewing | Preparing different teas with attention to water and steeping choices. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Tea tasting | Comparing the aromas, flavors, and styles of teas. | Coffee, tea and beverage hobbies |
| Teacup collecting | Collecting cups, saucers, and related tea wares. | Collecting and collection study |
| Team handball | Playing the court game of passing and throwing a ball at a goal. | Team sports and group field games |
| Tegestology | Collecting printed drink coasters and brewery-related designs. | Collecting and collection study · also beer-mat collecting |
| Telemark skiing | Skiing with free-heel bindings and characteristic lunging turns. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Telephone collecting | Collecting telephones and related communications objects. | Collecting and collection study |
| Telescope making | Building or assembling telescopes and related observing equipment. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Television-series appreciation | Following and discussing television storytelling and production. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Tempera painting | Working with tempera paints, including traditional egg-tempera techniques. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Ten-pin bowling | Rolling a ball to knock down a set of ten pins. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Tennis | Playing the racket sport on a court divided by a net. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Terrarium making | Creating small planted environments inside transparent containers. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Thang-ta | Practicing the martial tradition associated with Manipur. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Thanjavur painting | Creating paintings in the decorative tradition associated with Thanjavur. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Theater-prop making | Creating objects used by performers in productions. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Theatergoing | Attending plays, musicals, and other stage productions. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Three-dimensional puzzles | Assembling pieces into a solid object or structure. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Thrift-store browsing | Exploring secondhand shops for interesting or useful objects. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Ticket collecting | Collecting tickets associated with travel, events, or admission. | Collecting and collection study · also peridromophily (transport tickets) |
| Tidepool exploration | Observing organisms in intertidal pools. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Tie-dyeing | Creating fabric patterns by binding areas before dyeing. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Time-capsule projects | Selecting and preserving objects or messages for future opening. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Time-lapse photography | Recording change through images captured at spaced intervals. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Tool collecting | Collecting hand tools or other tools by maker, period, or use. | Collecting and collection study |
| Tool restoration | Cleaning, repairing, and returning old tools to use. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Topiary | Pruning plants into decorative shapes. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Touch rugby | Playing a rugby variation using touches instead of tackles. | Team sports and group field games |
| Toxophily | Shooting arrows at designated targets with a bow. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports · also archery |
| Toy collecting | Collecting toys by maker, period, material, or subject. | Collecting and collection study |
| Track athletics | Practicing track-based running events. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Track cycling | Riding bicycles on a velodrome track. | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation |
| Track-day driving | Driving a road or sports car on a closed circuit. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Traditional jujutsu | Practicing techniques within established Japanese jujutsu traditions. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Trail riding | Riding horses on outdoor trails and routes. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Trail running | Running on paths through natural or rural environments. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Trail-maintenance volunteering | Helping maintain permitted walking and outdoor recreation routes. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
| Trainspotting | Observing and recording trains and railway operations. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Trampolining | Practicing controlled jumps and acrobatics on a trampoline. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Translation for enjoyment | Translating texts to practice language and interpretation skills. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Transport-history study | Learning about the development of transport systems and vehicles. | History, geography, culture and humanities |
| Trapeze | Practicing movement and acrobatics on a suspended bar. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Travel journaling | Recording impressions, routes, and experiences during travel. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Travel photography | Documenting places, experiences, and cultures through photographs. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Travel writing | Writing descriptions and reflections about journeys and places. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Travel-itinerary design | Researching and creating detailed plans for imagined or actual journeys. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Tree identification | Identifying tree species through leaves, bark, flowers, and other features. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Triathlon | Combining swimming, cycling, and running in one event. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Trivia nights | Participating in social question-and-answer competitions. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Trombone playing | Playing music on the trombone. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Trumpet playing | Playing music on the trumpet. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Tuba playing | Playing music on the tuba. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Tufting | Making pile textiles by inserting yarn into a backing. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Tug-of-war | Competing in teams to pull a rope past a marked point. | Team sports and group field games |
| Tunisian crochet | Working crochet with multiple loops held on a long hook. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Twisty puzzles | Rearranging moving segments of puzzles such as the Rubik's Cube. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Typewriter collecting | Collecting typewriters and related writing-machine material. | Collecting and collection study |
| Typewriter restoration | Cleaning, adjusting, and repairing mechanical typewriters. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Typography design | Designing letterforms and arranging type for visual communication. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Tyrosemiophily | Collecting cheese labels, especially from Camembert boxes. | Collecting and collection study · also fromology |
U
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Ukulele playing | Playing the small, commonly four-stringed ukulele. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Ultimate | Playing a team game based on passing a flying disc. | Team sports and group field games · also flying disc |
| Ultralight flying | Flying lightweight aircraft within the relevant aviation category. | Aviation, motoring and mechanical recreation |
| Underwater hockey | Playing a team game that moves a puck along a pool floor. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Underwater orienteering | Navigating submerged courses using appropriate diving equipment. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Underwater photography | Making photographs beneath the water's surface. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Unicycling | Riding a cycle with one wheel. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Upcycled home decor | Making decorative household objects from reused materials. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Upholstery | Replacing or repairing padding and coverings on furniture. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Urban exploration | Exploring accessible built environments with lawful access. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Urban sketching | Drawing buildings, streets, and everyday scenes on location. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| User-interface design | Designing the appearance and interaction of digital interfaces. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
V
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Variable-star observing | Recording changes in the brightness of variable stars. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
| Vector illustration | Creating scalable artwork using paths and shapes. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| Vecturism | Collecting transport tokens and transit fare tickets. | Collecting and collection study |
| Veena playing | Playing instruments of the veena family. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Vegan cooking | Preparing dishes without animal-derived ingredients. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Vegetable fermentation | Making fermented vegetables with established food-safe methods. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Vegetable gardening | Growing vegetables for personal use or enjoyment. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Vegetarian cooking | Preparing dishes centered on ingredients other than meat and fish. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
| Velology | Collecting vehicle tax discs, mainly the British paper discs abolished in 2014. | Collecting and collection study |
| Ventriloquism | Performing speech that appears to come from a puppet or other source. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Vermicomposting | Using composting worms to process suitable organic material. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Vertical gardening | Growing plants on upright structures or arranged vertical surfaces. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Vexillology | Studying flags, their designs, and their histories. | History, geography, culture and humanities · also flag study |
| Via ferrata | Following protected climbing routes with installed cables and fixtures. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Video gaming | Playing digital games for enjoyment, challenge, or social interaction. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Video-game collecting | Collecting physical games, consoles, and related materials. | Collecting and collection study |
| Videography | Recording and editing moving images. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Vintage-clothing collecting | Collecting clothing from earlier periods. | Collecting and collection study |
| Vintage-computer collecting | Collecting older computers and associated hardware. | Collecting and collection study |
| Vintage-radio restoration | Restoring older radio equipment in a suitably equipped workshop. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Viola playing | Playing bowed-string music on the viola. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Violin playing | Playing bowed-string music on the violin. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Virtual travel | Exploring places through virtual tours and other digital resources. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Virtual-reality gaming | Playing games through immersive virtual-reality systems. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Virtual-world building | Designing spaces and experiences within shared digital worlds. | Video games, interactive entertainment and fandom |
| Visible mending | Repairing textiles with deliberately decorative stitches or patches. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Vocal improvisation | Creating spontaneous melodies, rhythms, or vocal textures. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Voice acting | Performing characters or narration through the voice. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Volleyball | Playing the team game of sending a ball over a net. | Team sports and group field games |
| Volunteering | Contributing leisure time and skills to causes or community organizations. | Social, cultural, community and quiet pastimes |
W
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Wakeboarding | Riding a board while towed by a boat or cable system. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Wakesurfing | Riding a boat-generated wave on a suitable board. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Walking football | Playing a version of football with restrictions on running. | Team sports and group field games |
| Walking tours | Exploring places on foot with a guide or planned route. | Travel, local exploration and spotting |
| Walking-stick making | Shaping and decorating walking sticks or canes. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Waltz | Dancing partnered patterns commonly organized in triple meter. | Dance and movement arts |
| Warli painting | Creating pictures in the geometric visual tradition of the Warli people. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Watch collecting | Collecting and studying watches and their mechanisms or designs. | Collecting and collection study · also horology |
| Watch repair | Maintaining and repairing watch mechanisms with appropriate tools. | Repair, restoration and home projects |
| Water aerobics | Practicing exercise routines in a swimming pool. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Water gardening | Growing plants in ponds and other aquatic garden features. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Water polo | Playing a team ball game in a swimming pool. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Water skiing | Gliding on skis while being towed across water. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Watercolor painting | Painting with transparent, water-based colors on absorbent surfaces. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Wax-seal making | Creating decorative seals on letters, packaging, and stationery. | Paper crafts, book arts and stationery |
| Wearable electronics | Adding electronic functions to clothing or wearable objects. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Weather observation | Recording local weather and comparing patterns over time. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Weather-station building | Assembling instruments to record local weather conditions. | Electronics, radio, robotics and technical making |
| Weaving | Interlacing threads or other flexible materials to create fabric or objects. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Web development | Building websites and interactive web applications. | Computing, programming and digital creativity |
| West Coast swing | Dancing the elastic, slot-based partnered swing style. | Dance and movement arts |
| Western riding | Practicing riding styles associated with Western equestrian traditions. | Equestrian and animal-assisted sports |
| Wet felting | Bonding wool fibers using moisture, friction, and pressure. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Whale watching | Observing whales and other marine mammals responsibly. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Wheel throwing | Shaping clay vessels on a rotating pottery wheel. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Wheelchair basketball | Playing basketball using sports wheelchairs. | Team sports and group field games |
| Wheelchair curling | Playing an adapted form of curling from a wheelchair. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Wheelchair rugby | Playing a team ball sport using specially designed sports wheelchairs. | Team sports and group field games |
| Wheelchair skating | Performing wheelchair maneuvers and tricks in suitable skate | Cycling, skating and wheeled recreation · also WCMX |
| Wheelchair tennis | Playing tennis using sports wheelchairs and adapted rules. | Racket, target, lawn and precision sports |
| Whistling | Practicing melodies, articulation, and musical performance through whistling. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Whitewater kayaking | Paddling a kayak through river rapids. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Whitework embroidery | Working pale or white embroidery on a matching ground. | Sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet |
| Whittling | Carving small wooden objects, commonly with a knife. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Wild-food foraging | Learning to identify and gather permitted edible wild foods. | Hiking, camping, navigation and land adventures |
| Wildflower identification | Learning to recognize flowering plants in the wild. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Wildlife gardening | Designing gardens that provide habitat resources for local wildlife. | Gardening, horticulture and floral design |
| Wildlife illustration | Drawing or painting animals and their environments. | Drawing, painting and illustration |
| Wildlife photography | Photographing animals in their habitats. | Photography, filmmaking and visual media |
| Wildlife watching | Observing wild animals and their behavior. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Wildlife-camera projects | Using appropriately placed cameras to observe animal activity. | Nature observation and field natural history |
| Windsport land sailing | Riding wind-powered wheeled craft on suitable land surfaces. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Windsurfing | Riding a board propelled by an attached sail. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Wingfoiling | Riding a hydrofoil board while holding a handheld wing. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Winter camping | Camping in cold and snowy conditions with suitable preparation. | Snow, ice and winter recreation |
| Wire sculpture | Bending and joining wire into three-dimensional forms. | Pottery, sculpture, glass and mosaics |
| Wire-wrapped jewelry | Securing and decorating beads or stones with shaped wire. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Wood carving | Removing wood to create decorative or sculptural forms. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Wood inlay | Setting contrasting materials into wood surfaces. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Woodcut printing | Carving wooden blocks to make relief prints. | Calligraphy, printmaking and traditional decorative arts |
| Wooden-toy making | Making toys, puzzles, and play objects from wood. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Woodturning | Shaping wood while it rotates on a lathe. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Woodworking | Making objects and structures from wood. | Woodworking, metalworking and leathercraft |
| Word searches | Finding specified words hidden in letter grids. | Puzzles, quizzes, logic and mental challenges |
| Wordplay | Creating puns, anagrams, palindromes, and other verbal constructions. | Reading, languages and word interests |
| Worldbuilding | Designing imaginary settings, histories, societies, and environments. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Wreath making | Arranging plant materials or craft supplies into decorative rings. | Jewelry, decorative crafts and handmade personal items |
| Wrestling | Practicing grappling methods to control or pin an opponent. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Writing-group participation | Sharing drafts and feedback with other writers. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Wushu | Practicing Chinese martial arts in traditional or modern sporting forms. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
X
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Xiangqi | Playing the Chinese strategic board game often called Chinese chess. | Board games, card games and tabletop role-playing |
Y
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Yacht cruising | Traveling for leisure aboard a sailing yacht. | Swimming, boating and water sports |
| Yarn dyeing | Coloring yarn for knitting, crochet, or weaving projects. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Yarn spinning | Twisting prepared fibers into yarn with a spindle or wheel. | Weaving, knotting, dyeing and fiber preparation |
| Yo-yo tricks | Performing controlled spins, returns, and string maneuvers with a yo-yo. | Theater, comedy, magic and circus skills |
| Yodeling | Practicing singing that moves rapidly between contrasting vocal registers. | Music, singing, instruments and audio creation |
| Yoga practice | Practicing yoga postures, movement, and related disciplines. | Martial arts, athletics, fitness and movement practice |
| Yogurt making | Culturing milk or suitable alternatives to make yogurt. | Cooking, baking and food crafts |
Z
| Hobby | What it involves | Kind |
|---|---|---|
| Zine making | Creating small, independently produced publications. | Writing, storytelling and publishing |
| Zoology study | Learning about animals and their biology. | Science, astronomy, mathematics and independent learning |
Learned names for hobbies
Many hobbies, collecting above all, have a name of their own, and the list uses it: philately (stamps), numismatics (coins and medals), notaphily (banknotes), exonumia (tokens), phaleristics (medals and orders), scripophily (stock and bond certificates), deltiology (postcards), phillumeny (matchbox labels; cumyxaphily for the boxes), tegestology (beer mats), labeorphily (beer-bottle labels), sucrology (sugar packets), lotology (lottery tickets), tyrosemiophily or fromology (cheese labels), fusilately (phone cards), helixophily (corkscrews), cagophily (keys), digitabulism (thimbles), vecturism (transport tokens), brandophily (cigar bands), arenophily (sand), velology (vehicle tax discs), errinophily (non-postage stamps), marcophily (postmarks), aerophilately (airmail), ex-librism (bookplates), bibliophily (books), bibliopegy (fine bookbinding), discophily (records), cartophily (cigarette and trading cards), philography (autographs), plangonology (dolls), arctophily (teddy bears), copoclephily (key rings), scutelliphily (patches), conchology (shells), oology (birds’ eggs), coleopterology (beetles) and sigillography (seals).
Other pastimes have learned names too: vexillology (flags), genealogy (family history), horology (clocks and watches), apiculture (beekeeping), aviculture (bird keeping), herpetoculture (reptile keeping), galanthophily (snowdrops), mycophily (wild mushrooms), oenophily (wine), ailurophily (cats), audiophilia (hi-fi sound), campanology (bell ringing), entomology (insects), lepidopterology (butterflies and moths), toxophily (archery), cruciverbalism (crosswords), enigmatology (puzzles), funambulism (tightrope walking), prestidigitation (sleight of hand) and spelunking or speleology (caves). Search the plain name, such as “stamp collecting”, and the table shows the learned one.
For other A-to-Z lists, see the List of Phobias and the List of Manias.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hobby?
A hobby is an activity done regularly for pleasure in one’s free time rather than for pay, such as reading, gardening, painting, collecting or playing a sport. What matters is the enjoyment and the habit; the same activity can be a job for one person and a hobby for another.
What are the main kinds of hobbies?
This list sorts hobbies into 40 kinds, from drawing and painting, crafts, music, dance and theater, through cooking, gardening, animals, the outdoors, sport and games, to computing, science, history, collecting, repair, travel and social pastimes. Many hobbies fit more than one kind; each is listed under its main one.
What is the hobby of collecting matchbox labels called?
Phillumeny. Other collecting hobbies with their own names include philately (stamps), numismatics (coins), notaphily (banknotes), deltiology (postcards), tegestology (beer mats), arctophily (teddy bears), cartophily (cigarette and trading cards), scripophily (share certificates) and vexillology (flags).
Which hobbies cost little to start?
Reading from a library, walking, running, drawing, writing, origami, chess, bird watching, singing and learning a language need little or no equipment. Most of the other hobbies on the list can also be tried cheaply before buying gear.
Which hobbies come from India?
Rangoli and kolam (floor patterns), mehndi (henna designs), kite flying, carrom, kabaddi, kho-kho, gilli-danda and antakshari are traditional Indian pastimes, and chess descends from the Indian game chaturanga.
Should hobbies go on a resume?
A short line of hobbies can help when they show a useful trait, such as a team sport for teamwork, chess for strategy or volunteering for service. Interviewers may ask about them, so list only hobbies you actually pursue.
Explore all general-knowledge topics and the A-to-Z lists.
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