French · Everyday Verbs
"to swim" in French: nager
nager
To swim in French is nager. Je nage means I swim. Aller nager is to go swimming. Soft g like measure: nah-ZHAY.
Pool
Je nage vingt longueurs chaque matin.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nager
Say it
nah-ZHAY
/na.ʒe/
nah-ZHAY. Soft g (zh); final er like ay. Je nage: zhuh nazh.
"to swim" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| nager | to swim Infinitive. | Infinitive. |
| je nage / tu nages | I swim / you swim Present. | Present. |
| aller nager | to go swimming Plans. | Plans. |
| nager la brasse | to swim breaststroke Stroke names. | Stroke names. |
| nagé | swum Past participle. | Past participle. |
How to use nager in real life
- 1Pool
Je nage vingt longueurs chaque matin.
I swim twenty lengths every morning.
Je nage.
- 2Beach
Les enfants nagent près du bord.
The kids are swimming near the shore.
Nagent.
- 3Weekend plan
On va nager à la piscine municipale.
We're going to swim at the public pool.
Nager infinitive.
Mistakes English speakers make with nager
Incorrect: Je suis nager.
Correct: Je nage. / Je vais nager.
Conjugate nager or use aller + infinitive.
Incorrect: Je swim.
Correct: Je nage.
Use nager, not English swim.
Good to know
Summer means tout le monde nage at municipal pools. Lifeguards shout ne nagez pas trop loin. Soft g surprises English speakers expecting a hard g.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
At the pool
ChatPal
Tu nages dans le grand bassin ?
Are you swimming in the big pool?
You
Oui, je nage dix minutes puis je me repose.
Yes, I swim ten minutes then I rest.
ChatPal
Je te rejoins.
I'll join you.
You
Prends ton bonnet.
Take your swim cap.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to swim" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to swim" in French
How do you say to swim in French?
Nager.
How do you say I swim?
Je nage.
How do you say go swimming?
Aller nager.
How do you pronounce nager?
nah-ZHAY (soft g).
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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