السباحة
as-sibāḥah
Swimming in Arabic is السباحة (as-sibāḥah).
السباحة refers to the human activity of moving oneself through water. If you wish to refer to a person who swims, you would use the noun سبّاح.
Meaning: human activity of moving oneself through water (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word for swimming pool is حوض السباحة, which literally translates to the basin of swimming.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form السباحة includes the definite article ال (al-), which is often used in Arabic when referring to the concept of a sport or activity in a general sense.
How do you pronounce it?
as-sibāḥah
Did you know?
- The word سبحان (Subhan), which begins the common phrase سبحان الله (Glory be to God), comes from the same root as السباحة. It evokes the idea of being 'transcendent' or 'floating' above all imperfections.
- The root of السباحة is shared with the word for 'floating' or 'gliding'. In a poetic or religious context, the same root is used to describe the celestial movement of stars and planets through the heavens.
- In some Arabic dialects, if you say you are 'swimming' in a metaphorical sense, such as 'swimming in problems', it is often expressed using words related to 'drowning' or 'sinking' rather than the sport 'السباحة'.
Examples in context
- أنا عضو في نادي السباحة.I'm a member of the swimming club.This sentence shows how to use السباحة to describe a membership in a swimming club.Tatoeba #419569 by saeb, translation #258913 by CK
- أنا لا أحب السباحة في المياه المالحةI don't like swimming in salt water.This sentence uses السباحة to express a preference regarding salt water.Tatoeba #7499334 by omarsidi, translation #7497190 by CK
- لأخفف من وزني، أسبح كل يوم لساعة في حوض السباحة.To lose weight I swim every day, one hour in the swimming pool.This sentence uses السباحة in the context of a swimming pool.Tatoeba #5118809 by damascene, translation #4363025 by BEASY8
- هل تستطيع السباحة؟Can you swim?
- عاوز أسبح في البحرI want to go swimming in the sea.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ahmed and Nour are talking about their weekend plans at the gym.
- أحمد Ahmedهل تحبين السباحة؟hal tuhibbeena al-sibaha?Do you like swimming?
- نور Nourنعم، السباحة ممتعة جداً.na'am, al-sibaha mumti'a jiddan.Yes, swimming is very fun.
- أحمد Ahmedأنا أمارس السباحة كل صباح.ana umarisu al-sibaha kull sabah.I practice swimming every morning.
- نور Nourهذا رائع، أنا أريد البدء أيضاً.hadha ra'i', ana ureedu al-bad' aydan.That is great, I want to start too.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
