nager
/na.ʒe/
To swim in French is nager.
The verb nager is used to describe the action of moving through water. If you are referring to the sport or the activity itself, the noun natation is used.
Meaning: move through water (verb)
Which one should you use?
nager is the verb meaning 'to swim', whereas natation is the noun used to refer specifically to the sport or the organized activity of swimming.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular present indicative form of nager is nage (swims/am swimming), and the first-person plural present indicative form is nageons (we swim/we are swimming). The past participle is nagé (swum).
How do you pronounce it?
/na.ʒe/
Did you know?
- French uses the expression nager dans le bonheur to say that someone is 'swimming in happiness'.
- The French word for 'breaststroke' is la brasse, which is also the word for 'arm span' or 'fathom'.
- The word nager shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'navy'. This is because both words are connected to the Latin root for sailing and navigating the seas.
Examples in context
- Essaie de nager !Try and swim!This sentence is useful for giving an instruction using nager.Tatoeba #9416761 by Micsmithel, translation #54256 by CM
- Je l'ai vue nager.I saw her swim.This sentence shows how to use nager after another verb.Tatoeba #5171858 by sacredceltic, translation #261029 by CK
- Il a peur de nager.He is afraid to swim.This sentence shows how to use nager after a preposition.Tatoeba #130905 by nimfeo, translation #289994 by CK
- Je nageI swim
- Vous nagezYou swim (formal/plural)
- Il/Elle nageHe/She swims
- Je fais de la natation régulièrementI swim regularly
- Il aime faire de la natation à la piscineHe enjoys swimming at the pool
- J'aime pratiquer la natation pour rester en formeI like practicing swimming to stay fit
- Elle pratique la natation depuis son plus jeune âgeShe has been practicing swimming since she was young
- Les enfants adorent barboter dans la piscineKids love to splash around in the pool
- Arrête de barboter et apprends vraiment à nager!Stop splashing around and learn to swim for real!
- 444 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are at the local swimming pool.
- NathanTu veux nager avec moi ?Do you want to swim with me?
- ManonOui, j'adore nager dans cette piscine.Yes, I love to swim in this pool.
- NathanTu nages très vite, Manon.You swim very fast, Manon.
- ManonMerci, c'est gentil de ta part.Thank you, that is kind of you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “swim” translations and entries nager, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nager, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
