Italian · Everyday Verbs

"to swim" in Italian: nuotare

nuotare

Say it: nwoh-TAH-rehverb/nwoˈta.re/

To swim in Italian is nuotare. Io nuoto means I swim. Nuoto can also mean the sport swimming—use a clear verb form for the action.

Hotel pool

La mattina nuoto per mezz'ora.
In the morning I swim for half an hour.
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How to pronounce nuotare

Say it

nwoh-TAH-reh

/nwoˈta.re/

Nuotare stresses TAH: nwoh-TAH-reh. Io nuoto is EE-oh NWOH-toh.

"to swim" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
nuotareto swim

Infinitive.

nuoto / nuoti / nuotaI swim / you swim / he-she swims

Present verb.

nuotare in mareto swim in the sea

Beach.

andare a nuotareto go swimming

Plans.

How to use nuotare in real life

  1. 1Hotel pool

    La mattina nuoto per mezz'ora.

    In the morning I swim for half an hour.

    Nuoto as verb.

  2. 2Beach day

    Tu nuoti meglio di me.

    You swim better than I do.

    Nuoti.

  3. 3Weekend plan

    Domenica nuotiamo al lago.

    Sunday we swim at the lake.

    Nuotiamo.

Mistakes English speakers make with nuotare

Incorrect: Io faccio swimming ogni giorno.

Correct: Io nuoto ogni giorno.

Use nuoto / nuotare.

Incorrect: Lei nuotare adesso.

Correct: Lei nuota adesso.

Conjugate: nuota.

Good to know

Summer talk is full of nuotare—sea, lake, or crowded pools. Andiamo a nuotare? is an easy afternoon invite.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Choosing a beach activity

  1. ChatPal

    Nuoti subito o aspetti?

    Are you swimming right away or waiting?

  2. You

    Nuoto subito: l'acqua è calda.

    I'm swimming right away: the water is warm.

  3. ChatPal

    Allora nuotiamo fino alla boa.

    Then let's swim to the buoy.

  4. You

    Ci sto!

    I'm in!

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"to swim" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to swim" in Italian

Nuoto verb or noun?

Io nuoto is the verb; il nuoto can mean the sport.

We swim?

Nuotiamo.

Go swimming?

Andare a nuotare.

Swim in the sea?

Nuotare in mare.

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