Portuguese Phrase
Meu hobby é pintar.
Meaning
This phrase is a simple and direct way to share a personal interest or pastime in Portuguese. It uses the borrowed English word 'hobby', which is perfectly natural and common in modern Brazilian and European Portuguese.
When to use
Use this sentence in social situations when introducing yourself or answering questions about your free time. It is appropriate for both casual conversations with friends and networking events.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Meuhobbyépintar
Meu
A masculine possessive pronoun meaning 'my', which agrees with the masculine noun 'hobby'.
é
The third-person singular present tense of 'ser', used to define what something is.
pintar
The infinitive form of the verb 'to paint'. In Portuguese, we use the infinitive to represent the concept of the activity.
🗨In Conversation
O que você faz para se divertir?
What do you do for fun?
Meu hobby é pintar.
My hobby is painting.
✕Common Mistakes
Meu hobby está pintar.
Use the verb 'ser' (é) for definitions and permanent traits, not 'estar'.
Meu hobby é pintando.
In Portuguese, the infinitive form (pintar) is used to name an activity, whereas English often uses the -ing form.
↔Alternatives
Eu gosto de pintar.
I like to paint.
Eu adoro pintura.
I love painting.
Cultural Tip
While the word 'hobby' is very common, you might also hear the word 'passatempo'. In Brazil, sharing your hobbies is a great way to 'quebrar o gelo' (break the ice) and find common ground with new acquaintances.