Portuguese Phrase
É o meu passatempo principal.
Meaning
The sentence means 'It is my main hobby.' It emphasizes that among all the activities you do for fun, this one stands out as the most important or frequent.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to talk about a favorite activity, especially in a conversation about interests, free‑time routines, or when comparing several hobbies.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Éomeupassatempoprincipal
É (ser)
The verb 'ser' in the third person singular present tense, used for essential characteristics.
o (definite article)
Definite article 'o' agrees in gender (masculine) and number (singular) with the noun that follows.
meu (possessive adjective)
Possessive adjective that agrees with the noun it modifies (masculine singular).
passatempo (noun)
A masculine noun meaning 'hobby' or 'pastime'.
principal (adjective)
Adjective placed after the noun, meaning 'main' or 'principal'.
🗨In Conversation
O que você costuma fazer nos fins de semana?
What do you usually do on weekends?
Eu costumo pintar, mas também corro. É o meu passatempo principal.
I usually paint, but I also run. It’s my main hobby.
✕Common Mistakes
É a meu passatempo principal.
The article and possessive must agree in gender; 'passatempo' is masculine, so use 'o' and 'meu'.
É o meu passatempos principal.
The noun 'passatempo' is singular; do not add an 's' unless you mean multiple hobbies.
É o meu passatempo principalmente.
‘Principalmente’ means ‘mainly’, not ‘principal’; keep the adjective ‘principal’.
↔Alternatives
É o meu hobby principal.
It’s my main hobby.
É a minha atividade favorita.
It’s my favorite activity.
É o que eu mais gosto de fazer.
It’s what I like to do the most.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the word 'passatempo' is commonly used in informal conversation, while 'hobby' (borrowed from English) is also understood, especially among younger speakers. When speaking formally, you might prefer 'atividade de lazer' or 'atividade preferida'.