das
Schwimmen
🏊♀️ What exactly is "das Schwimmen"?
Das Schwimmen refers to the activity of swimming itself, the act of moving through water using specific body movements. It's a nominalized verb (substantiviertes Verb), derived from the infinitive schwimmen (to swim).
Because it names an activity, it's treated as neuter in German and therefore takes the article das.
It's mostly used in the singular form as it describes the activity as a whole.
🚨 Attention: Don't confuse it with the verb schwimmen (e.g., Ich schwimme gerne. - I like to swim.).
Article rules for der, die, and das
Deverbal nouns → immer neutral.
These are nouns derived from verbs. They are also called Verbalsubstantive or Verbalnomen.
Deverbal nouns → immer neutral.
These are nouns derived from verbs. They are also called Verbalsubstantive or Verbalnomen.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Das Schwimmen
Das Schwimmen is a neuter noun (sächlich) and is generally only used in the singular. It's a noun formed from the infinitive of the verb schwimmen (nominalization).
Declension Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (1st Case) | das Schwimmen | ein Schwimmen* |
| Genitive (2nd Case) | des Schwimmens | eines Schwimmens* |
| Dative (3rd Case) | dem Schwimmen | einem Schwimmen* |
| Accusative (4th Case) | das Schwimmen | ein Schwimmen* |
*Use with the indefinite article is rare, as "Schwimmen" usually refers to the general activity.
Plural
The plural form "die Schwimmen" is very uncommon and practically never used. Instead, people refer to different types of swimming (Arten des Schwimmens) or use paraphrases.
💡 Example Sentences
- Das Schwimmen ist mein Lieblingssport. (Swimming is my favorite sport.)
- Wegen des Schwimmens im kalten Wasser habe ich mich erkältet. (Because of swimming in the cold water, I caught a cold.)
- Ich widme meine Freizeit oft dem Schwimmen. (I often dedicate my free time to swimming.)
- Er genießt das Schwimmen am Morgen. (He enjoys swimming in the morning.)
🏊♂️ Everyday Use: When to say "das Schwimmen"?
Das Schwimmen is used to talk about the activity of swimming itself. Here are typical contexts:
- Sports and Leisure: "Das Schwimmen ist gut für die Ausdauer." (Swimming is good for endurance.) / "Wir gehen heute zum Schwimmen." (We're going swimming today.)
- Health: "Der Arzt hat mir Schwimmen empfohlen." (The doctor recommended swimming to me.) / "Das Schwimmen stärkt die Rückenmuskulatur." (Swimming strengthens the back muscles.)
- Technique/Skill: "Das Schwimmen muss man lernen." (One has to learn swimming.) / "Er arbeitet an der Verbesserung seines Schwimmens." (He is working on improving his swimming [style/technique].)
Difference from 'baden': While das Schwimmen emphasizes active movement in the water, das Baden (bathing) is often more general and can mean simply splashing around or being in the water without a specific athletic goal.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
For the article: Remember that activities turned into nouns (like Laufen - running, Essen - eating, Lesen - reading) are neuter in German: DAS Laufen, DAS Essen, DAS Lesen, and also DAS Schwimmen. Think of the doing as the thing (neuter).
For the meaning: Imagine someone swimming in water. The sound "Schwimm-schwimm" mimics the motion, and the word ends in "-en", like many verbs (which describe the action).
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- Das Baden: (bathing) Often more relaxed, less sporty.
- Das Planschen: (splashing) Playful movement in shallow water.
- Specific swimming styles (as nouns): Das Kraulen (crawl stroke), das Brustschwimmen (breaststroke), das Rückenschwimmen (backstroke).
⚠️ Potential Confusion
- schwimmen (verb): The action itself (Ich schwimme - I swim).
- der Schwimmer / die Schwimmerin: The person who swims (male/female swimmer).
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Warum nehmen Fische nie einen Kredit auf?
Weil sie immer im Schwimmen sind! 😄
EN: Why do fish never take out a loan?
Because they are always swimming! (Also means: *Because they are always broke/in debt* - it's a pun on "im Schwimmen sein" which can colloquially mean being financially unstable or overwhelmed).
✍️ Poem about Swimming
DE:
Im Wasser klar und kühl,
Das Schwimmen, welch Gefühl!
Ein Zug, ein Arm, ein Bein,
So frei und leicht zu sein.
Der Körper gleitet fort,
an diesem schönen Ort.
EN:
In water clear and cool,
Swimming, what a feeling!
A stroke, an arm, a leg,
To be so free and light.
The body glides along,
in this beautiful spot.
❓ Little Riddle
DE:
Ich hab kein Boot, doch fahr ich weit,
Durch Nass und Kühle, jederzeit.
Arme und Beine helfen mir,
Was tu ich wohl im Wasser hier?
Lösung: Das Schwimmen
EN:
I have no boat, yet travel far,
Through wet and cool, whenever you are.
Arms and legs help me along,
What am I doing in the water strong?
Solution: Swimming (Das Schwimmen)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
- Word Formation: Das Schwimmen is a classic example of nominalizing a verb in German (infinitive -> noun). Such nouns are always neuter (das).
- Compounds: The word is part of many compound nouns, e.g., das Wettschwimmen (competitive swimming), das Synchronschwimmen (synchronized swimming), der Schwimmunterricht (swimming lessons), das Schwimmbad (swimming pool), die Schwimmbrille (swimming goggles).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schwimmen?
The activity of swimming, when used as a noun, is always neuter in German: das Schwimmen.
