j'aime nager
To say "I like swimming" in French, use j'aime nager.
This phrase is used to express that someone enjoys the activity of swimming.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of je (I), aime (like/love) and nager (to swim).
Which one should you use?
While j'aime nager focuses on the action of swimming, the phrase j'aime la natation refers to swimming as a sport or a formal discipline. For a stronger level of enjoyment or passion for the activity, you can use j'adore nager to say "I love swimming".
How does it change in a sentence?
In French, the verb aimer is followed by the infinitive nager to express liking an activity, rather than using a gerund like the English "swimming". To negate the phrase, the negation particles ne… pas are placed around the conjugated verb aime.
Did you know?
- The verb nager shares an ancestor with the English word 'navigate'. Both words trace back to the Latin 'navigāre', which originally meant 'to sail' or 'to go by ship'.
- In French, using aimer with a person's name means 'to love', but adding an adverb like bien to say je l'aime bien actually softens it to mean 'I like them'.
- In French, using the verb aimer can be tricky because when applied to people, it often means 'to love', whereas for activities like nager, it simply means 'to like'.
Examples in context
- J'aime nager, mais je n'aime pas nager ici.I like swimming, but I don't like to swim here.This sentence is useful for expressing a contrast between liking swimming and not liking it in a specific location.Tatoeba #5344343 by Aiji, translation #258906 by CK
- J'aime nager.I like swimming.This sentence is a simple way to state that you like swimming.Tatoeba #1367214 by sacredceltic, translation #258905 by CK
- J'adore nager, c'est ma passion !I love swimming, it's my passion!
- J'apprécie la pratique de la natation, c'est une activité bénéfique pour ma santé.I appreciate practicing swimming, it's a beneficial activity for my health.
- J'aime nager dans la mer.I like swimming in the sea.
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are talking about their summer hobbies.
- LucasEst-ce que tu aimes le sport ?Do you like sports?
- EmmaOui, j'aime nager pendant l'été.Yes, I like swimming during the summer.
- LucasMoi aussi, j'aime nager quand il fait chaud.Me too, I like swimming when it is hot.
- EmmaC'est une activité très relaxante.It is a very relaxing activity.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nager, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
