# Hobbies and sports in Esperanto – football, music, phrases

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/hobbies-sports/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-11

> Football is futbalo or piedpilkado, a hobby is ŝatokupo. Learn sport and hobby words, how ludi works for games and instruments, and free-time phrases.

**Football** in Esperanto is ***futbalo*** or ***piedpilkado***, and a **hobby** is a ***ŝatokupo*** or ***hobio***. You "play" a sport or an instrument with the verb ***ludi***: ***Mi ludas tenison*** "I play tennis", ***Mi ludas pianon*** "I play the piano". To say what you like doing, put ***ŝati*** before an infinitive: ***Mi ŝatas naĝi*** "I like to swim". Pronunciation guides split words into syllables, with the stressed syllable in capitals.

## Sports and games

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| sport | *sporto* | SPOR-to | |
| football, soccer | *futbalo*, *piedpilkado* | fut-BA-lo, pi-ed-pil-KA-do | see below |
| basketball | *basketbalo*, *korbopilkado* | bas-ket-BA-lo, kor-bo-pil-KA-do | *korbo* "basket" |
| volleyball | *volejbalo*, *flugpilkado* | vo-lej-BA-lo, flug-pil-KA-do | |
| handball | *handbalo*, *manpilkado* | hand-BA-lo, man-pil-KA-do | |
| tennis | *teniso* | te-NI-so | *tabloteniso* "table tennis" |
| golf | *golfo*, *golfludo* | GOL-fo, golf-LU-do | *golfo* also means "gulf" |
| hockey | *hokeo* | ho-KE-o | |
| rugby | *rugbeo* | rug-BE-o | |
| cricket | *kriketo* | kri-KE-to | |
| baseball | *bazpilko*, *bazopilko* | baz-PIL-ko, ba-zo-PIL-ko | |
| swimming | *naĝado* | na-ĜA-do | from *naĝi* |
| running | *kurado* | ku-RA-do | from *kuri* |
| cycling | *biciklado* | bi-ci-KLA-do | from *bicikli* |
| skiing | *skiado* | ski-A-do | from *skii* |
| athletics | *atletiko* | at-le-TI-ko | |
| gymnastics | *gimnastiko* | gim-nas-TI-ko | |
| judo | *ĵudo* | ĴU-do | |
| chess | *ŝako* | ŜA-ko | also the word for "check" |

## Futbalo or piedpilkado?

Both words name the same sport, and ReVo lists both. *Futbalo* is the international word; *piedpilkado* is built from parts: *pied·pilk·ad·o*, "foot + ball + continued action". ReVo notes that the style guide *Vortoj de la bona lingvo* prefers the compound, but speakers use both. Basketball, volleyball and handball have the same pair.

*Piedpilko* without *-ad-* is the ball itself, and by extension the game: *ludi piedpilkon*. A football player is a *futbalisto*. Esperanto does not split "soccer" and "football"; for the American game, ReVo's quotations use *usona futbalo*.

## Playing with ludi

*Ludi* works with or without an object. A sport or game takes the object ending *-n* (see [the accusative](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/accusative/) and [transitive and intransitive verbs](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/transitivity/)). As in English, a sport in general needs no article: *ludi futbalon*.

| Use | Esperanto | English |
|---|---|---|
| a sport | *Mi ludas tenison.* | I play tennis. |
| a board game | *Ni ludu ŝakon.* | Let's play chess. |
| an instrument | *Li bone ludas la violonon.* | He plays the violin well. |
| an instrument, with *sur* | *Vi ludas sur piano, ĉu ne?* | You play the piano, don't you? |
| no object | *La infanoj ludas ekstere.* | The children are playing outside. |
| with someone | *Mi volas ludi kun vi.* | I want to play with you. |

Instruments allow two patterns, both normal: an object (*ludi gitaron*) or *sur* (*ludi sur la gitaro*, as ReVo quotes). "Go swimming" and "go skiing" use *iri* plus an infinitive: *Ni iru skii* "Let's go skiing".

## Verbs for sport

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| to swim | *naĝi* | NA-ĝi | *Ili ŝatas naĝi.* – They like to swim. |
| to run | *kuri* | KU-ri | *Ĉiumatene ŝi iras kuri.* – She goes running every morning. |
| to ride a bicycle | *bicikli* | bi-CI-kli | *Ni kune biciklas.* – We bike together. |
| to ski | *skii* | SKI-i | *Mi ŝategas skii.* – I love skiing. |
| to skate | *sketi* | SKE-ti | *Mi ne scipovas sketi.* – I can't skate. |
| to climb | *grimpi* | GRIM-pi | *Mi ŝatas grimpi en la montoj.* – I like climbing in the mountains. |
| to do sports | *sportumi* | spor-TU-mi | *Mi sportumas ĉiutage.* – I exercise every day. |
| to train | *trejni* | TREJ-ni | *Por gajni necesas trejni sin.* – To win, you must train. |
| to win, beat | *venki* | VEN-ki | *Kiu teamo venkis?* – Which team won? |
| to win, gain | *gajni* | GAJ-ni | *Kiu gajnis la ludon?* – Who won the game? |
| to lose | *perdi* | PER-di | *Ni perdis la matĉon.* – We lost the match. |
| to score | *goli* | GO-li | *Ŝi golis dufoje.* – She scored twice. |

ReVo notes that the guide above prefers *glitkuri* to *sketi*. *Venki* is "to defeat" and takes the loser as its object: *Nia teamo venkis la kontraŭulojn* "Our team beat the opponents". Use *venki en* for the contest: *Ni venkis en la matĉo*. *Gajni* is "to win something", such as a game or a prize.

## Teams, matches and results

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| team | *teamo* | te-A-mo |
| match | *matĉo* | MAT-ĉo |
| tournament | *turniro* | tur-NI-ro |
| champion | *ĉampiono* | ĉam-pi-O-no |
| spectator | *spektanto* | spek-TAN-to |
| sports stadium | *stadiono* | sta-di-O-no |
| victory, defeat | *venko*, *malvenko* | VEN-ko, mal-VEN-ko |
| point | *poento* | po-EN-to |

Watch *stadio*: in ReVo it means "stage, phase" (and an ancient Greek unit of length). The sports ground is *stadiono*.

## Four suffixes for sport and hobby words

| Suffix | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| *-ad-* | lasting or repeated action | *naĝi* → *naĝado*, *legi* → *legado*, *danci* → *dancado* |
| *-ist-* | a person often busy with it | *futbalisto*, *pianisto*, *biciklisto*, *skiisto* |
| *-ej-* | a place made for it | *naĝejo*, *tenisejo*, *sportejo*, *dancejo*, *koncertejo* |
| *-um-* | no fixed meaning | *sportumi*, *ĝardenumi* |

**-ad-.** PMEG says that after an action root, *-ad-* shows an action that lasts long or happens often. That makes *naĝado* "swimming" as an activity, and it works as a noun: *Biciklado estas tre amuza* "Cycling is a lot of fun". *Mia hobio estas skiado* "My hobby is skiing."

**-ist-.** PMEG defines it as a person who often takes part in something, perhaps as a job; its example is *biciklisto*. ReVo defines *dancisto* as someone who dances professionally. For a plain statement about yourself, a verb is safer: *Mi ludas pianon*. More in [jobs and professions](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/jobs-work/).

**-ej-.** PMEG: what comes before *-ej-* is what happens in the place. *Tenisejo* is where tennis is played, *naĝejo* a swimming pool.

**-um-.** PMEG says *-um-* has no defined meaning: you learn each word, and it advises great care with new ones. ReVo has *sportumi* and *ĝardenumi*. Details on all four are in [suffixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/suffixes/).

## Hobbies and free time

*Ŝatokupo* is literally a "liked occupation": ReVo defines it as one in which you like to spend your free time. ReVo marks *hobio* as a neologism and notes that the guide above prefers *ŝatokupo*.

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| hobby | *ŝatokupo*, *hobio* | ŝa-to-KU-po, ho-BI-o | |
| free time | *libertempo*, *libera tempo* | li-ber-TEM-po, li-BE-ra TEM-po | |
| to read | *legi* | LE-gi | *legado* "reading" |
| to sing | *kanti* | KAN-ti | *kanto* "song" |
| to dance | *danci* | DAN-ci | |
| to cook | *kuiri* | ku-I-ri | |
| to take photos | *fotografi*, *foti* | fo-to-GRA-fi, FO-ti | |
| to garden | *ĝardenumi* | ĝar-de-NU-mi | ReVo: to tend a garden, especially as an amateur |
| to collect stamps | *kolekti poŝtmarkojn* | ko-LEK-ti poŝt-MAR-kojn | |
| to play chess | *ludi ŝakon* | LU-di ŜA-kon | |
| to play cards | *kartludi* | kart-LU-di | |
| to play video games | *ludi videoludojn* | LU-di vi-de-o-LU-dojn | |
| to paint | *pentri* | PEN-tri | |
| to draw | *desegni* | de-SEG-ni | |
| to watch a show or film | *spekti* | SPEK-ti | |
| to travel | *vojaĝi* | vo-JA-ĝi | |

## Music and instruments

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| music | *muziko* | mu-ZI-ko |
| to make music | *muziki* | mu-ZI-ki |
| song | *kanto* | KAN-to |
| singer | *kantisto* | kan-TIS-to |
| musician | *muzikisto* | mu-zi-KIS-to |
| concert | *koncerto* | kon-CER-to |
| orchestra | *orkestro* | or-KES-tro |
| choir | *ĥoro*, *koruso* | ĤO-ro, ko-RU-so |
| jazz | *ĵazo* | ĴA-zo |
| musical instrument | *instrumento* | in-stru-MEN-to |

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| piano | *piano* | pi-A-no |
| guitar | *gitaro* | gi-TA-ro |
| violin | *violono* | vi-o-LO-no |
| flute | *fluto* | FLU-to |
| drum | *tamburo* | tam-BU-ro |
| trumpet | *trumpeto* | trum-PE-to |
| saxophone | *saksofono* | sak-so-FO-no |
| accordion | *akordiono* | a-kor-di-O-no |
| organ | *orgeno* | or-GE-no |

Examples: *Mi lernas ludi gitaron* "I'm learning to play the guitar"; *Li ludas sur tamburo* "He plays the drum." For Esperanto songs and bands see [music and film](https://esperantopedia.org/about/music-film/).

## Saying what you like

*Ŝati* takes a noun in the accusative or the infinitive of another verb. ReVo gives *Ĉu vi ŝatas danci?* as its example for "doing something willingly". The infinitive never changes, and the same is true after *scipovi*, *lerni* and *voli*. See [verbs](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/verbs/).

| Pattern | Esperanto | English |
|---|---|---|
| *ŝati* + noun | *Mi ŝatas tenison.* | I like tennis. |
| *ŝati* + infinitive | *Ni ŝatas ludi futbalon.* | We like playing football. |
| more than | *Mi ŝatas naĝi pli ol kuri.* | I like swimming more than running. |
| *plaĉi*, roles swapped | *Naĝado plaĉas al mi.* | I like swimming. |
| *scipovi* "can" | *Mi scipovas ludi pianon.* | I can play the piano. |
| negative | *Mi ne ŝatas sporton.* | I don't like sport. |

PMEG explains that with *ŝati* the one who enjoys is the subject, while with *plaĉi* the thing enjoyed is the subject and the person comes after *al*. [Feelings and emotions](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/feelings/) compares *ŝati*, *plaĉi* and *ami*.

## Talking about your free time

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *Kion vi ŝatas fari en via libera tempo?* | What do you like to do in your free time? |
| *Mi ŝatas legi kaj naĝi.* | I like reading and swimming. |
| *Mia ŝatokupo estas kolekti poŝtmarkojn.* | My hobby is collecting stamps. |
| *Kiun sporton vi plej ŝatas?* | Which sport do you like best? |
| *Ĉu vi ludas iun instrumenton?* | Do you play an instrument? |
| *Mi ludas neniun instrumenton.* | I don't play any instrument. |
| *Kiu teamo venkis?* | Which team won? |
| *Mi ne ŝatas sporton, sed mi ŝatas spekti futbalajn matĉojn.* | I don't like sport, but I like watching football matches. |

## Common questions

### How do you say football in Esperanto?

*Futbalo* or *piedpilkado*; ReVo lists both. A football player is *futbalisto*, and American football is *usona futbalo*.

### What is "hobby" in Esperanto?

*Ŝatokupo* ("liked occupation") or *hobio*. To ask, say *Kio estas via ŝatokupo?*

### How do you say "I play the piano" in Esperanto?

*Mi ludas pianon*, or *Mi ludas sur piano*. Use *ludi* for every instrument: *ludi gitaron*, *ludi la violonon*.

### How do you say "I like swimming" in Esperanto?

*Mi ŝatas naĝi*, with *ŝati* and the infinitive. The noun is *naĝado*: *Naĝado plaĉas al mi.*

### How do you say swimming, cycling and skiing in Esperanto?

*Naĝado*, *biciklado* and *skiado*: add *-ad-* to the verb root. A person is a *biciklisto* or *skiisto*, a place a *naĝejo*.

## Sources

- [ReVo: sporto, sportumi, sportisto, sportejo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sport.html), [futbalo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/futbal.html), [basketbalo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/basketbal.html), [volejbalo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/volejbal.html), [handbalo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/handbal.html), [teniso, tabloteniso, tenisejo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/tenis.html)
- [ReVo: pilko (piedpilkado, korbopilkado, flugpilkado, manpilkado, bazpilko)](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pilk.html), [golfo, golfludo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/golf1.html), [hokeo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/hoke.html), [rugbeo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rugbe.html), [kriketo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kriket.html), [atletiko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/atletik.html), [gimnastiko](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/gimnas1.html), [ĵudo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/jxud.html), [ŝako](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sxak.html)
- [ReVo: naĝi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/nagx.html), [kuri](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kur.html), [biciklo, bicikli](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/bicikl.html), [skio, skii, skiisto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/ski.html), [sketi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sket.html), [grimpi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/grimp.html), [trejni](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/trejn.html), [venki](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/venk.html), [gajni](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/gajn.html), [perdi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/perd.html), [goli](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/gol.html)
- [ReVo: teamo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/team.html), [matĉo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/macx1.html), [turniro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/turnir.html), [ĉampiono](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/cxampi.html), [stadiono](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/stadio.html), [stadio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/stadi.html), [spekti, spektanto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/spekt.html), [poento](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/poent.html)
- [ReVo: ludi, kartludi, videoludo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/lud.html), [ŝati, ŝatokupo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sxat.html), [hobio](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/hobi.html), [libertempo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/temp.html)
- [ReVo: legi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/leg.html), [kanti, kantisto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kant.html), [danci, dancisto, dancejo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/danc.html), [kuiri](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kuir.html), [fotografi, foti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fotogr.html), [ĝardeno, ĝardenumi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/gxarde.html), [kolekti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kolekt.html), [pentri](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pentr.html), [desegni](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/desegn.html), [vojaĝi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/vojagx.html), [naĝejo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/nagx.html)
- [ReVo: muziko, muziki, muzikisto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/muzik.html), [instrumento](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/instru2.html), [piano](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/pian.html), [gitaro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/gitar.html), [violono](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/violon.html), [fluto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/flut.html), [tamburo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/tambur.html), [trumpeto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/trumpe.html), [saksofono](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/saksof.html), [akordiono](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/akordi.html), [orgeno](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/orgen.html), [orkestro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/orkest.html), [ĥoro](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/hxor.html), [koruso](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/korus.html), [ĵazo](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/jxaz.html), [koncerto](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/koncer1.html)
- [ReVo: bibliography entry "BL" (Vortoj de la bona lingvo)](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/dok/bibliogr.html)
- PMEG: [AD](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ad.html), [IST](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ist.html), [EJ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/ej.html), [UM](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/um.html), [similsignifaj verboj (ŝati, plaĉi)](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj_frazroloj/similsignifaj.html)
- [Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/643886) (CC BY 2.0 FR), phrases confirmed as attested: #643886 *Mi ludas tenison*, #8668036 *Ni ludu ŝakon*, #7748263 *Li bone ludas la violonon*, #4818424 *Vi ludas sur piano, ĉu ne?*, #2340208 *La infanoj ludas ekstere*, #8640927 *Mi volas ludi kun vi*, #3116742 *Ĉiumatene ŝi iras kuri*, #13807854 *Ni kune biciklas*, #12207527 *Ni iru skii*, #11693066 *Mi ŝategas skii*, #3367554 *Ili ŝatas naĝi*, #9848410 *Por gajni necesas trejni sin*, #6617259 *Kiu teamo venkis?*, #5694942 *Kiu gajnis la ludon?*, #818518 *Nia teamo venkis la kontraŭulojn*, #12470910 *Ni venkis en la matĉo*, #13405244 *Biciklado estas tre amuza*, #2899114 *Mia hobio estas skiado*, #3113159 *Mia ŝatokupo estas kolekti poŝtmarkojn*, #13711695 *Mi lernas ludi gitaron*, #4702190 *Li ludas sur tamburo*, #5605041 *Ni ŝatas ludi futbalon*, #2172648 *Mi scipovas ludi pianon*, #1066810 *Mi ne ŝatas sporton*, #2739672 *Ĉu vi ludas iun instrumenton?*, #5530089 *Mi ludas neniun instrumenton*