die
Freizeitbeschäftigung
📖 What exactly is a Freizeitbeschäftigung?
Die Freizeitbeschäftigung (noun, feminine) refers to an activity one engages in during their freie Zeit (free time), meaning outside of work, school, or other obligations. It's what you do for pleasure, relaxation, or out of interest.
Essentially, it's another word for a Hobby or pastime. It can be anything: doing sports, playing an instrument, reading, painting, gardening, meeting friends, hiking, and much more.
Because the word ends in -ung, it is feminine: die Freizeitbeschäftigung. ♀️
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: die Freizeitbeschäftigung
The noun „Freizeitbeschäftigung“ is feminine. Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Freizeitbeschäftigung |
| Genitive | der | Freizeitbeschäftigung |
| Dative | der | Freizeitbeschäftigung |
| Accusative | die | Freizeitbeschäftigung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Freizeitbeschäftigungen |
| Genitive | der | Freizeitbeschäftigungen |
| Dative | den | Freizeitbeschäftigungen |
| Accusative | die | Freizeitbeschäftigungen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Lesen ist meine liebste Freizeitbeschäftigung.
Reading is my favourite leisure activity. - Welchen Freizeitbeschäftigungen gehst du gerne nach?
What leisure activities do you enjoy doing? - Er widmet seiner Freizeitbeschäftigung, dem Modellbau, viel Zeit.
He dedicates a lot of time to his leisure activity, model building. - Wir suchen nach neuen Freizeitbeschäftigungen für das Wochenende.
We are looking for new leisure activities for the weekend.
💡 How to use Freizeitbeschäftigung?
The term Freizeitbeschäftigung is used to talk about activities pursued during one's free time. It's a somewhat more formal or comprehensive term than „Hobby“.
- You can ask about someone's Freizeitbeschäftigungen: „Was sind deine liebsten Freizeitbeschäftigungen?“ (What are your favorite leisure activities?)
- You can talk about your own Freizeitbeschäftigung: „Meine Freizeitbeschäftigung ist das Wandern in den Bergen.“ (My leisure activity is hiking in the mountains.)
- It is often used in texts about lifestyle, hobbies, or work-life balance.
Although „Hobby“ is more common in everyday speech, „Freizeitbeschäftigung“ emphasizes the aspect of Beschäftigung (occupation, activity) during freie Zeit (free time). It's a compound noun, which is very common in German.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Remembering the Article: Words ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine. Think of: die Übung (the practice), die Meinung (the opinion), die Wohnung (the apartment)... and, of course, die Freizeitbeschäftigung. The ending -ung is your signal for „die“! ♀️
Remembering the Meaning: Break down the word: Frei-zeit + Beschäftigung. It's a Beschäftigung (something you are busy with, an activity) for your freie Zeit (free time). Makes sense, right? Free from work? Time for an activity! 🎉
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- das Hobby: Very common, often more personal than Freizeitbeschäftigung.
- der Zeitvertreib: (Pastime) Something done to pass the time pleasantly, sometimes without deep interest.
- die Liebhaberei: Similar to hobby, emphasizes the passion behind it.
- die Aktivität (in der Freizeit): (Activity in free time) A more general term for something one does.
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- die Arbeit: (Work) Paid or professional activity.
- die Pflicht: (Duty) A task one must perform.
- die Verpflichtung: (Obligation) Something one is obliged to do.
- der Beruf: (Profession/Job) A person's professional occupation.
⚠️ Caution: „Beschäftigung“ on its own can also mean „job“ or „employment“. The context provided by „Freizeit-“ is crucial here!
😂 A Little Joke
Frage: Was ist die gefährlichste Freizeitbeschäftigung?
Antwort: Faulenzen – dabei kann man leicht einschlafen!
Question: What is the most dangerous leisure activity?
Answer: Lazing around – you can easily fall asleep doing it!
✍️ Poem about Leisure Time
Die Arbeit ist getan, der Tag wird alt,
die freie Zeit nun bald entfallt.
Was tun, womit die Stund' vertreiben?
Mit einer schönen Freizeitbeschäftigung bleiben!
Ob Lesen, Sport, ob Malerei,
die Seele atmet auf, wird frei.
Musik erklingt, der Garten ruft,
ein jeder find't, was Freude schuf.
The work is done, the day grows old,
The free time soon will now unfold.
What to do, how to pass the hour?
Stay with a lovely leisure power (activity)!
Be it reading, sports, or artistry,
The soul breathes deeply, becomes free.
Music sounds, the garden calls,
Everyone finds what joy installs.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich gehöre nicht zur Pflicht, nicht zur Arbeit schwer,
ich komme nach der Müh', oft sehnt man mich sehr.
Ich kann Sport sein, Kunst, ein Spiel allein,
ich fülle deine freie Zeit, was mag ich sein?
Lösung: die Freizeitbeschäftigung
I don't belong to duty, nor to heavy work,
I come after the toil, often longed for with a smirk.
I can be sports, art, a game just for one,
I fill your free time, what am I, when day is done?
Solution: die Freizeitbeschäftigung (leisure activity/hobby)
🧩 Word Building Blocks: Freizeitbeschäftigung
The word „Freizeitbeschäftigung“ is a classic example of a German compound noun (Kompositum). It is composed of:
- die Freizeit: Itself composed of frei (adjective: free) and die Zeit (noun, feminine: time).
- die Beschäftigung: Derived from the verb beschäftigen (to occupy, to employ) with the suffix -ung, which forms nouns (and makes them feminine).
Together, the meaning emerges: An activity (Beschäftigung) that one pursues in one's free time (Freizeit).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Freizeitbeschäftigung?
The noun "Freizeitbeschäftigung" is feminine. The correct article is die Freizeitbeschäftigung. It is used to describe hobbies or activities done in one's free time.