French word

nager

Pronunciation

IPA/naʒe/

Meaning

  • verbswim

Example

Je sais nager.

I can swim.

Illustration for nager (swim)

More examples

Il aime nager en mer.

He likes swimming in the sea.

Core concept

A body moves through water by beating its limbs, either advancing, staying afloat, or swimming.

Common phrases

  • apprendre à nager

    learn to swim

  • bien nager

    swim well

  • nager en mer

    swim in the sea

Similar words

savoir: Possessing the learned or practiced skill needed to swim.
pouvoir: Being in circumstances that make swimming possible or permitted.
se baigner: Entering the water to swim, soak, or spend time there.

Definition in French

Effectuer un mouvement du corps dans l'eau, en battant les membres, pour aller d'un point à un autre, rester à la surface ou faire de la natation.

Word origin

French nager developed from Old French nagier, inherited from Latin natare, meaning to swim.

Usage tips

  • For ability, French uses savoir nager, while pouvoir nager usually concerns permission or a particular possibility.

Related words

  • nageswimmingnoun
  • nageurswimmernoun
  • nageusefemale swimmernoun

Word lists with this word