natation

swimming

noun nah-tah-SYOHN Rare

Origin: Latin 'natatio' (swimming)

Usage Note

Natation is the formal and sports term for swimming as an activity or discipline. For a casual swim you would say aller nager ('to go for a swim'), but the sport itself is always la natation. Un cours de natation is a swimming lesson, and un maillot de natation is a swimsuit.

Examples

"Elle fait de la natation trois fois par semaine."

Natural Translation

She swims three times a week.

Literal Translation

She does swimming three times a week.

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