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
schwimmen
to float
To stay on the surface of a liquid without sinking.
EXAMPLE
Die Fettaugen schwimmen auf der Suppe.
The drops of fat are floating on the soup.
schwimmen
to flounder
Colloquial: to be unsure, not know something exactly, or have difficulty finding the answers in an exam.
EXAMPLE
Als der Professor nach Details fragte, kam der Student ganz schön ins Schwimmen.
When the professor asked for details, the student really started to flounder.
im Geld schwimmen
to be rolling in money
Colloquial: to be very rich and have a lot of money.
EXAMPLE
Seit sie im Lotto gewonnen hat, schwimmt ihre Familie im Geld.
Ever since she won the lottery, her family has been rolling in money.
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
Both baden and schwimmen can describe a recreational activity in the water. Baden focuses more on enjoying time in the water, while schwimmen emphasizes deliberate movement using the arms and legs. Use baden for enjoying yourself in the water and schwimmen when the movement is important.
schwimmen
Im warmen See schwimmen die Kinder mehrere Bahnen.
The children swim several lengths in the warm lake.
baden
Am warmen See baden die Kinder den ganzen Nachmittag.
The children spend the whole afternoon swimming in the warm lake.
In real life
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