French word

natation

Pronunciation

IPA/natasjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounswimming

Example

Il apprend la natation à la piscine.

He is learning to swim at the pool.

Illustration for natation (swimming)

More examples

Faire de la natation est bon pour la santé.

Swimming is good for your health.

Core concept

A body moving through water in practiced strokes, both as a sport and a learned skill.

Common phrases

  • faire de la natation

    go swimming

  • école de natation

    swimming school

Similar words

nage: The act of swimming itself.
baignade: Swimming in water for recreation or relaxation.
piscine: A facility or building where people swim.
entraînement: Practice to improve swimming skills or competitive performance.

Definition in French

Discipline sportive et terme désignant l'action de nager dans l'eau.

Word origin

French natation comes from Latin natatio, meaning swimming, which derives from natare, meaning to swim.

Usage tips

  • Natation is feminine, so the usual article is la; nager is the verb for the act of swimming.

Related words

  • nagerswimverb
  • nageusefemale swimmernoun

Word lists with this word