Portuguese · Everyday Verbs
"to swim" in Portuguese: nadar
nadar
To swim in Portuguese is nadar. Say eu nado de manhã or ela nada bem. Avoid using nada to mean nothing in these practice lines—here nada is she/he swims.
Hotel pool
Eu nado vinte minutos antes do café.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nadar
Say it
nah-DAHR / NAH-doo
/na.ˈdaʁ/
nah-DAHR. Eu nado is NAH-doo.
"to swim" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| nadar | to swim Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| eu nado | I swim Present. | Present. |
| vamos nadar | let’s swim Invite. | Invite. |
| nadei | I swam Past. | Past. |
How to use nadar in real life
- 1Hotel pool
Eu nado vinte minutos antes do café.
I swim twenty minutes before breakfast.
Routine.
- 2Beach day
As crianças nadam perto do salva-vidas.
The kids swim near the lifeguard.
Safety.
- 3Race recap
Ele nadou rápido na última bateria.
He swam fast in the last heat.
Past.
Mistakes English speakers make with nadar
Incorrect: Eu nadar agora.
Correct: Eu nado agora. / Vou nadar agora.
Conjugate nadar; don’t leave the infinitive alone.
Incorrect: Ela é uma nada boa. (meaning swimmer)
Correct: Ela é uma nadadora boa. / Ela nada bem.
Nadador/nadadora is the person; nadar is the verb.
Good to know
Brazilians swim at beaches, clubs, and hotel pools year-round in many cities. Vamos nadar? is a casual invite. Nadador is the athlete—keep the verb nadar for the action.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Morning at the club
ChatPal
Você nada na raia três?
Do you swim in lane three?
You
Nado. Eu nado mais lento no começo.
I do. I swim slower at the start.
ChatPal
Eu nado quinze minutos e paro.
I swim fifteen minutes and stop.
You
Combinado. Depois a gente alonga.
Deal. Afterward we stretch.
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 Portuguese
I swim?
Eu nado.
She swims?
Ela nada.
Let’s swim?
Vamos nadar.
Swimmer?
Nadador / nadadora.
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
