01
schwimmen
to swim
To move through water by moving your arms and legs.
example
Im Sommer gehe ich gerne im See schwimmen.
In summer, I like to go swimming in the lake.
schwimmen
to swim
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Perfect tense with 'haben' or 'sein'
The perfect tense of 'schwimmen' (to swim) is formed with 'haben' when the activity itself is meant. It is formed with 'sein' when movement from one place to another is being described.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe heute eine Stunde im Pool geschwommen.
I swam in the pool for an hour today.
Context clue: person vs. object
Whether 'schwimmen' means 'to move through water' or 'to float' depends on the subject. People and animals swim actively. Inanimate things like wood or oil float passively on the surface.
EXAMPLE
Mein Hund schwimmt sehr gerne im Fluss.
My dog really likes swimming in the river.
Typical collocations
Common combinations are 'schwimmen gehen' (to go swimming) as well as places with the preposition 'in', for example 'im Meer schwimmen' (to swim in the sea), 'im See schwimmen' (to swim in the lake), or 'im Schwimmbad schwimmen' (to swim in the swimming pool).
EXAMPLE
Wollen wir am Nachmittag schwimmen gehen?
Shall we go swimming in the afternoon?
Fixed expression: uncertainty
The expression 'ins Schwimmen kommen' or 'ins Schwimmen geraten' means that someone becomes unsure and loses control, especially when answering questions.
EXAMPLE
Bei der unerwarteten Frage des Chefs geriet er sichtlich ins Schwimmen.
At the boss's unexpected question, he visibly started to flounder.
Register: colloquial
The figurative meaning 'to be unsure' is used mainly in colloquial language, often in the context of exams or interviews.
EXAMPLE
In der mündlichen Prüfung habe ich bei der letzten Frage ganz schön geschwommen.
In the oral exam, I really floundered on the last question.
Fixed expression: wealth
The colloquial expression 'im Geld schwimmen' (to be rolling in money) is a fixed expression. It means that someone is extremely rich.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Verkauf seiner Firma schwimmt er im Geld.
After selling his company, he is rolling in money.
Compare with
schwimmen vs baden
to bathe / swim
'baden' and 'schwimmen' both have to do with water. 'schwimmen' means that you move through water using your arms and legs. 'baden' can mean that you are in the water for pleasure, for example in a lake or swimming pool. But it can also mean that you wash yourself in a bathtub. Learners often confuse the words because when you 'baden', you sometimes also swim. If the movement in the water is important, you say 'schwimmen'. If being in the water or washing in the bathtub is important, 'baden' fits better.
schwimmen
Im Sommer schwimmt Max jeden Morgen zehn Bahnen im Freibad.
In summer, Max swims ten laps every morning at the outdoor pool.
baden
Am Abend badet Lisa, weil sie sich nach dem langen Tag entspannen möchte.
In the evening, Lisa takes a bath because she wants to relax after the long day.
In real life
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