Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Swim in Spanish: Nadar
Nadar · verb · nah-DAHR
Nadar is the Spanish verb for to swim, a regular -ar verb that is one of the most straightforward to learn. It covers swimming in pools, oceans, rivers, and lakes. Related vocabulary includes nadador (swimmer), natación (swimming as a sport), and piscina or alberca (swimming pool).
Pronounce nadar as nah-DAHR, with the stress on the last syllable. Both a vowels are the same clear, open Spanish a.
Aprendí a nadar cuando tenía seis años.
I learned to swim when I was six years old.
How Native Speakers Use Nadar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Swimming at the beach
Nos encanta nadar en el mar cuando visitamos Cancún.
We love to swim in the sea when we visit Cancún.
Nadar en el mar (to swim in the sea) is a common vacation activity phrase.
Swimming lessons
Mi hija está tomando clases de natación los sábados por la mañana.
My daughter is taking swimming lessons on Saturday mornings.
Natación is the noun for the sport or practice of swimming.
Exercise swimming
Nado treinta largos todas las mañanas para mantenerme en forma.
I swim thirty laps every morning to stay in shape.
Nadar is commonly used in exercise and fitness contexts.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Nadar
Using nadar reflexively
Incorrect: Me nado en la piscina todos los días.
Correct: Nado en la piscina todos los días.
Nadar is not a reflexive verb. Unlike bañarse (to bathe), nadar does not take a reflexive pronoun. Simply conjugate it directly: nado, nadas, nada.
Confusing piscina and alberca
Incorrect: Vamos a la piscina. (in Mexico, sounds overly formal)
Correct: Vamos a la alberca. (natural in Mexico)
In Mexico, the common word for pool is alberca, while piscina is standard in most other Spanish-speaking countries. Using piscina in Mexico is understood but sounds like a textbook translation.
Lock in Swim Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Nadar used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using nadar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Aprendí a nadar cuando tenía seis años. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Swim in Spanish
- How do you say swim in Spanish?
- Swim in Spanish is nadar. It is a perfectly regular -ar verb: yo nado, tú nadas, él nada, nosotros nadamos, ellos nadan. The noun for the sport of swimming is natación.
- What is the difference between piscina and alberca?
- Both mean swimming pool, but the choice is regional. Piscina is used in Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and most of Latin America. Alberca is the standard word in Mexico. Both are correct in their respective regions.
- How do you say swimmer in Spanish?
- A swimmer is nadador (masculine) or nadadora (feminine). A professional or competitive swimmer can also be called a nadador profesional or deportista de natación.