natō
To swim in Latin is to say natō. Wiktionary also lists nō.
Meaning: move through water (verb)
Ways to say it
| Latin |
|---|
| natō |
| nō |
The verb expresses the action of moving through water. The related noun natātiō refers to an act or instance of swimming.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form natō is the first-person singular present indicative active form, translating to "I swim". To express the infinitive "to swim", use natāre. For the third-person singular perfect indicative active form, meaning "he/she/it swam", use natāvit.
Did you know?
- In Roman poetry, the verb natāre was sometimes used metaphorically to describe the way stars or clouds 'swim' or move through the sky.
- The English word 'natatorium', referring to a public swimming pool, is a direct loanword from the Latin natātiō.
- In Roman physical training, natātiō was considered a vital part of a soldier's education, essential for crossing rivers during military campaigns.
Examples in context
- nato in balneoI swim in the bath
Example conversation
Marcus and Julia are talking at the beach.
- MarcusIūlia, quō natās?Julia, where are you swimming?
- JuliaAd īllum saxum natō.I am swimming to that rock.
- MarcusTū bene natās!You swim well!
- JuliaGrātiās, Marce.Thank you, Marcus.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “swim” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
