schwimmen
/ˈʃvɪmən/
The German verb for "swim" is schwimmen.
schwimmen means to move through water. You can use it to describe the activity itself, such as in the phrase Schwimmen ist mein Hobby (Swimming is my hobby) or to express an intention like Ich möchte schwimmen gehen (I want to go swimming).
Meaning: move through water (verb)
Which one should you use?
While schwimmen refers to the act of moving through water, the word baden is often used when the focus is specifically on leisure swimming or bathing in a pool or lake.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland, baden is used as an alternative to schwimmen to refer to swimming for leisure or bathing.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The simple past form of the verb is schwamm. The past participle is geschwommen. When using the perfect tense (to say someone "has swum"), use the auxiliary verb sein (to be) instead of haben (to have), forming ist geschwommen. The noun form is created by capitalizing the verb and adding a neuter article: das Schwimmen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃvɪmən/
Did you know?
- German speakers use schwimmen to describe things that float, such as a piece of wood 'swimming' on the surface of a lake.
- In some idiomatic contexts, schwimmen can mean to be undecided or 'drifting' between two different opinions or choices.
- The expression vor Freude schwimmen can be used to describe being overwhelmed by a feeling, similar to 'swimming in happiness'.
Examples in context
- Tom kann gut schwimmen.Tom is able to swim well.This sentence illustrates that Tom is able to swim well using schwimmen.Tatoeba #609838 by Dejo, translation #37089 by CK
- Sie kann gut schwimmen.She can swim well.This sentence illustrates that she is able to swim well using schwimmen.Tatoeba #2102039 by Tamy, translation #8452080 by ET
- Er kann bald schwimmen.He will be able to swim soon.This sentence illustrates that he will be able to swim soon using schwimmen.Tatoeba #8482421 by Esperantostern, translation #8472140 by ET
- 721 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are planning their summer holiday.
- MaximilianMöchtest du im Meer schwimmen, Sarah?Do you want to swim in the sea, Sarah?
- SarahJa, das würde ich sehr gerne machen.Yes, I would really love to do that.
- MaximilianSoll ich ein Hotel mit Pool suchen?Should I look for a hotel with a pool?
- SarahDas ist eine gute Idee, Maximilian.That is a good idea, Maximilian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “swim” translations and entries schwimmen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
