bañarse
/baˈɲaɾse/
In Spanish, the word for the act of bathing is bañarse.
bañarse is used to describe the act of bathing. While it can refer to taking a bath in a tub, it is also the standard way to say 'to go swimming' in a pool, lake or the sea.
Meaning: act of bathing (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb is reflexive, consisting of bañar (to bathe) and the reflexive pronoun se (oneself).
How does it change in a sentence?
As a reflexive verb, it must be conjugated with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) to indicate the subject is performing the action on themselves. The conjugations are: me baño (I bathe), te bañas (you bathe), se baña (he/she bathes), nos bañamos (we bathe), os bañáis (you all bathe) and se bañan (they bathe).
How do you pronounce it?
/baˈɲaɾse/
Did you know?
- The verb bañarse is often used in the phrase bañarse en gloria, which means to be overwhelmed with joy or satisfaction.
- In certain contexts, specifically regarding clothing, the verb bañar can also mean to coat or cover something in a liquid, such as 'bañar en chocolate'.
- While bañarse covers swimming in the sea, Spanish speakers often use nadar when they specifically mean the athletic act of swimming laps or exercising.
Examples in context
- Ella detesta bañarse sola.She hates bathing alone.This sentence demonstrates the use of bañarse.Tatoeba #1769223 by marcelostockle, translation #11275605 by Luornu
- Me voy a bañarI'm going to bathe
- Necesito bañarmeI need to bathe
- Voy a darme un bañoI'm going to take a bath
- Vamos a bañarnos en el ríoLet's bathe in the river
- Me despierto, me baño y me vistoI wake up, bathe, and dress
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are discussing their morning routines.
- Alejandro¿A qué hora prefieres bañarse?What time do you prefer bathing?
- MaríaPrefiero bañarme por la mañana.I prefer bathing in the morning.
- AlejandroYo prefiero hacerlo por la noche.I prefer doing it at night.
- MaríaEso suena más tranquilo, Alejandro.That sounds more peaceful, Alejandro.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bañarse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
