Inklingo

nadar

nah-DARnaˈðar

to swim

VerbA1regular ar
A simple illustration of a child swimming across a clear blue pool, viewed from a slightly elevated perspective.
past Participlenadado
infinitivenadar
gerundnadando

📝 In Action

Me encanta nadar en el mar durante el verano.

A1

I love swimming in the sea during the summer.

¿Sabes nadar? Es una habilidad muy importante.

A1

Can you swim? It's a very important skill.

Ellos nadaron cien metros en menos de un minuto.

A2

They swam one hundred meters in less than a minute.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • flotar (to float)
  • bucear (to dive/snorkel)

Common Collocations

  • piscina para nadarswimming pool
  • saber nadarto know how to swim

to be swimming in, to be riddled with

VerbB2regular ar
A figurative illustration showing a person relaxing while floating on their back in a large, overflowing pool filled entirely with golden coins and paper bills, symbolizing extreme wealth.
past Participlenadado
infinitivenadar
gerundnadando

📝 In Action

Después de ganar la lotería, la familia nada en dinero.

B2

After winning the lottery, the family is swimming in money.

El documento nada en incorrecciones gramaticales.

C1

The document is riddled with grammatical errors.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • nadar contra corrienteto go against popular opinion or accepted practices; to struggle against the norm.
  • nadar y guardar la ropato hedge one's bets; to play it safe and keep one's options open.

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yonadara
nadaras
él/ella/ustednadara
nosotrosnadáramos
vosotrosnadarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesnadaran

Present Subjunctive

yonade
nades
él/ella/ustednade
nosotrosnademos
vosotrosnadéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesnaden

Indicative

Preterite

yonadé
nadaste
él/ella/ustednadó
nosotrosnadamos
vosotrosnadasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesnadaron

Imperfect

yonadaba
nadabas
él/ella/ustednadaba
nosotrosnadábamos
vosotrosnadabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesnadaban

Present

yonado
nadas
él/ella/ustednada
nosotrosnadamos
vosotrosnadáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesnadan

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "nadar" in Spanish:

to swim

🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: nadar

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'nadar' in its figurative sense?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
natación(swimming (the sport or activity))Noun
nadador/a(swimmer (person))Noun
piscina(swimming pool)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

Comes directly from the Latin verb *natare*, which also meant 'to swim.' It shares its root with English words like 'natatorium' (a swimming pool).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: nadarItalian: nuotare

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

How is 'nadar' different from 'bucear'?

'Nadar' means to move through the water, usually on the surface. 'Bucear' means to dive or to swim underwater, often while exploring with equipment (like snorkeling or scuba diving).

Does 'nadar' require a special preposition?

When referring to the physical location, you often use 'en' (in/at): 'Nado en la piscina.' When using the figurative meaning (swimming in money/problems), you also use 'en': 'Nada en deudas' (He is swimming in debt).