Geeks and Snobs: Names for People With Big Hobbies

In the past, words like "nerd" and "geek" were rude names for people who weren't "cool." But these days, more people are comfortable describing themselves with these words.

Now that they're more common in daily conversations, it's important to know these special terms as well as others for people with big hobbies. Do any of them describe you?

Words for General Interests

Geek/Nerd

A woman and man working on a computer circuit board

These are two of the most common names for people with a strong interest in something and a deep knowledge of it.

My coworker is a Harry Potter nerd. She knows the details of every book in the series.

My friends and I are all computer geeks. We want to start our own tech company one day.

Enthusiast

“Enthusiast” is a more formal word for someone with a serious hobby. It's easy to remember if you think of someone who is very enthusiastic about something.

This event attracts plant enthusiasts from around the country.

Being a watch enthusiast can be very expensive!

Buff

"Buff" isn't used alone — it must be added to the subject of interest, as you can see in the examples below. It's commonly used for people who enjoy cars and history, but it's not limited to those two.

I'm no opera buff, but I really enjoyed that performance.

This garage is a popular place for car buffs to hang out.

There's also another common but very different meaning for "buff" — read about it here!

Lover

A woman holding a white dove close to her chest

This one should be quite simple to understand; people who love things are "lovers"!

My friend is an animal lover. She's had many different pets over the years.

I’m a music lover, but I don’t know how to play any instruments.

Nut

“Nut” is a very informal word for someone mentally unwell. When used together with a hobby, however, it means the person has a very intense interest in it.

Rick is a travel nut. He visits a different country every year.

Snob

In its original meaning, snobs are people who think they're better than others in some way.

However, it's also commonly used to refer to someone who knows a lot about something and doesn't accept low-quality versions of it.

I'm a bit of a coffee snob; I only drink expensive, organic brands from specialty stores.

Fanboy/Fangirl

Fanboys and fangirls are big fans of a particular person, product or brand.

The theater was packed with fanboys and fangirls excited to see the new movie.

These terms can also be used with a negative nuance, depending on the situation.

Fangirls will harass you on social media if you say anything bad about their favorite artists.

Stan

An smiling woman holding out her arms at a live concert

A “stan” is anyone with an interest in a particular celebrity.

I'm a Tom Cruise stan. I see every one of his movies the day they release.

It can also be used as a verb, sometimes with "for" and sometimes without.

Jessica stans Taylor Swift.

My little sister stans pretty hard for BTS.

This term comes from a song by American rapper Eminem about an obsessed fan named Stan. Although the song is about a person with an unnatural and unhealthy interest, the expression is used casually.

Words for Specific Interests

The terms above can be used for many different kinds of interests. The ones below, however, are for very specific hobbies.

Bookworm

Meaning: a person who loves reading

Kate's been a bookworm since she first learned to read.

Foodie

Meaning: a person who enjoys trying different kinds of food

With cheap and delicious cuisine everywhere, this city is very popular with foodies.

Cinephile

Meaning: someone who loves movies

That theater is where true cinephiles go to watch movies. They have strict rules about noise and smartphone usage.

"-phile," which comes from Greek and means "lover," can be used for other interests too. For example, a "Japanophile" is a lover of Japan and Japanese culture, while "bibliophile" is another name for a book-lover.

Techie

Meaning: a person with a deep interest in technology

Many techies get excited whenever Apple announces new products.

Shutterbug

A group of people holding large cameras pointed at the sky

Meaning: someone who loves cameras and taking pictures

The day of the solar eclipse, the park was full of shutterbugs trying to get a great picture.

Gamer

Meaning: a person who loves video games and video game culture

Gamers around the world were excited for the release of the Nintendo Switch 2.

Gym rat

Meaning: a person who spends a lot of time exercising in gyms

My brother and his friends are all gym rats; if they have free time, they're probably working out.

Fashionista

Meaning: someone with a deep interest in clothing and fashion

Jay is a fashionista who always follows the latest trends and styles.

Thrill seeker

Meaning: a person who enjoys doing exciting (and sometimes dangerous) things

Maddy's always been a thrill seeker; she loves skydiving, bungee jumping and stuff like that.

Wrap-up

Instead of plainly saying that you enjoy a hobby, the words introduced here can help you to have more fun and expressive conversations.

By the way, finding English-speaking clubs focused on your hobbies is a great way to improve your language skills. So get out there and find other geeks just like you! (You might even find some here on Engoo!)