Spanish Phrase
¿Qué aficiones tienes?
Meaning
Literally, 'What hobbies do you have?'. The question asks the listener to list the activities they enjoy in their free time. It can also be used to learn more about someone's interests beyond work or family.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual conversation when meeting new people, during ice‑breaker activities, or when you want to deepen a friendship by discovering shared interests. It works well in both formal and informal settings, though the word 'aficiones' leans slightly toward a more polished register.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Quéaficionestienes?
¿Qué?
Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what', always carries an accent to differentiate from the conjunction 'que'.
aficiones
Plural noun meaning 'hobbies' or 'interests'; derived from the verb 'aficionar' and used more formally than 'pasatiempos'.
tienes
Second‑person singular present of the verb 'tener' (to have); used for informal 'you' (tú).
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué aficiones tienes?
What hobbies do you have?
Me gusta leer, tocar la guitarra y hacer senderismo.
I like reading, playing the guitar, and hiking.
✕Common Mistakes
Que aficiones tienes?
Missing the accent changes the meaning; 'Que' is a conjunction, not a question word.
¿Qué aficiones tiene?
Using 'tiene' (third‑person) would be incorrect unless you are speaking formally to 'usted'.
¿Qué afición tienes?
Singular 'afición' would ask about a single hobby; the plural 'aficiones' asks for all interests.
↔Alternatives
¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos?
What are your pastimes?
¿Qué hobbies tienes?
What hobbies do you have?
¿En qué te gusta invertir tu tiempo libre?
What do you like to spend your free time on?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, asking about "aficiones" is a polite way to show interest in someone's personal life without being too intrusive. "Pasatiempos" is more colloquial and common among younger speakers, while "aficiones" can sound slightly more refined, making it suitable for both friends and acquaintances. Remember to keep the tone friendly; a follow‑up like "¡Qué interesante!" (How interesting!) helps keep the conversation flowing.