canoe
Loading your saved state.
canoe
A small, narrow, open boat that is moved forward with one or more paddles. The term is often also used as a general term for similar paddle boats such as a kayak.
Am Wochenende haben wir eine Tour mit dem Kanu auf dem See gemacht.
At the weekend, we went on a canoe trip on the lake.
The verb used with 'Kanu' (canoe) is 'fahren' (to go/ride). So you say 'Kanu fahren' (to go canoeing). Paddling is the way you move.
Am Sonntag wollen wir auf dem Fluss Kanu fahren.
On Sunday, we want to go canoeing on the river.
Common expressions are 'eine Kanutour machen' (to go on a canoe trip), 'mit dem Kanu paddeln' (to paddle with the canoe), or 'im Kanu sitzen' (to sit in the canoe). The location is often mentioned too, for example 'auf einem See' (on a lake) or 'auf einem Fluss' (on a river).
Wir haben eine dreitägige Kanutour auf der Mecklenburgischen Seenplatte gemacht.
We went on a three-day canoe trip on the Mecklenburg Lake District.
Pay attention to the prepositions: you sit 'im Kanu' (in the canoe; dative, location), go 'mit dem Kanu' (by canoe/with the canoe; dative, means), and are 'auf dem Wasser' (on the water; dative, location).
Es ist herrlich, im Sommer mit dem Kanu auf dem See zu sein.
It is wonderful to be on the lake by canoe in the summer.
boat
'das Boot' and 'das Kanu' both refer to small watercraft. 'Boot' is the more general term. Many different small vehicles on water can be a 'Boot', for example a rowboat or a motorboat. 'Kanu' is more precise: it is narrow, open on top, and moved with paddles. The words can be confused because a canoe is also a type of boat. If the exact type is not important, people often say 'Boot'. When paddling and this narrow shape are involved, 'Kanu' is more precise.
Am Samstag paddelt Herr Braun mit dem Kanu den Fluss hinunter.
On Saturday, Mr. Braun paddles down the river in a canoe.
Im Urlaub fährt er mit einem kleinen Boot zur Insel.
On vacation, he takes a small boat to the island.