schwimmen gehen
To go swimming
Literally: to swim to go
Use this phrase to announce a trip to the pool, lake, or beach for swimming.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe going for a swim as an activity.
- The verb 'gehen' is conjugated while 'schwimmen' stays at the end.
- Perfect for leisure, exercise, or summer plans.
Meaning
It is the standard German way to say you are heading out to the pool, lake, or sea for a swim. It describes the activity as a planned outing or hobby rather than just the physical act of moving in water.
Key Examples
3 of 6Planning a weekend activity with a friend
Wollen wir am Samstag schwimmen gehen?
Do we want to go swimming on Saturday?
Explaining your morning routine to a colleague
Ich gehe jeden Morgen vor der Arbeit schwimmen.
I go swimming every morning before work.
Texting a group of friends on a hot day
Es ist so heiß! Gehen wir schwimmen?
It's so hot! Shall we go swimming?
Cultural Background
Germany has a massive public pool culture, with over 6,000 public baths across the country. The 'Freibad' (outdoor pool) season is a major cultural marker of summer, often associated with the smell of chlorine and salty fries. Most Germans learn to swim at a very young age as part of their formal education.
The 'War' Shortcut
In spoken German, people often say 'Ich war schwimmen' (I was swimming) instead of the longer 'Ich bin schwimmen gegangen' to talk about the past.
Baden vs. Schwimmen
Be careful! 'Baden gehen' often implies just splashing around or playing in the water, while 'schwimmen gehen' sounds more like actual exercise.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe going for a swim as an activity.
- The verb 'gehen' is conjugated while 'schwimmen' stays at the end.
- Perfect for leisure, exercise, or summer plans.
What It Means
This phrase is your go-to for any aquatic adventure. It combines the action schwimmen with the movement gehen. Together, they describe a leisure activity or a workout. It is one of the first phrases you learn in German. It is simple, clear, and very common. You are not just swimming; you are making an event of it.
How To Use It
You treat gehen as the main verb in the sentence. It changes based on who is doing the action. For example, you say Ich gehe schwimmen or Wir gehen schwimmen. The word schwimmen stays in its basic form at the end. It functions much like the English phrase 'to go shopping.' If you want to add a location, put it in the middle. You could say Ich gehe im See schwimmen. It is a very flexible and modular phrase.
When To Use It
Use it when planning your weekend with friends. Tell your colleagues about your morning fitness routine. It is perfect for those hot summer days at the lake. You can use it in a text message to invite someone out. It works in professional settings if you are discussing hobbies. It is also great for talking to kids about afternoon plans. Basically, if water is involved, this phrase fits.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it if you are already in the water. At that point, you are simply schwimmen. Avoid it if you are just taking a bath at home. For that, Germans use the verb baden. Do not use it if you are talking about professional competitive swimming. In that context, trainieren might be more appropriate. Also, if you are drowning, please just shout Hilfe!. This phrase is for fun, not for emergencies.
Cultural Background
Germans have a deep, almost spiritual connection to their public pools. Every town has a Freibad (outdoor pool) or Hallenbad (indoor pool). Swimming is a core part of the school curriculum. Most kids earn their Seepferdchen (seahorse) badge early on. The Freibad is a social hub during the summer months. People go there to meet, tan, and eat Schwimmbadpommes (pool fries). These fries always taste better after a few laps in the water.
Common Variations
You might hear baden gehen for a more relaxed splash. This implies playing in the water rather than doing laps. Ins Schwimmbad gehen specifically means going to the pool building. If you want to sound more casual, use eine Runde schwimmen. This implies a quick, refreshing session. Some people also say ins kühle Nass springen for a poetic touch. That literally means 'to jump into the cool wet.'
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral and universally understood. The main 'gotcha' is the word order: always keep the conjugated form of 'gehen' in the second position and 'schwimmen' at the very end of the clause.
The 'War' Shortcut
In spoken German, people often say 'Ich war schwimmen' (I was swimming) instead of the longer 'Ich bin schwimmen gegangen' to talk about the past.
Baden vs. Schwimmen
Be careful! 'Baden gehen' often implies just splashing around or playing in the water, while 'schwimmen gehen' sounds more like actual exercise.
The Fries Secret
If you go to a German 'Freibad', you MUST order 'Pommes Schranke' (fries with mayo and ketchup). It is the unofficial national dish of German swimmers.
Examples
6Wollen wir am Samstag schwimmen gehen?
Do we want to go swimming on Saturday?
A standard way to suggest a plan.
Ich gehe jeden Morgen vor der Arbeit schwimmen.
I go swimming every morning before work.
Describes a regular habit or exercise.
Es ist so heiß! Gehen wir schwimmen?
It's so hot! Shall we go swimming?
Short, punchy, and perfect for a quick invite.
Wenn du deine Hausaufgaben machst, gehen wir schwimmen.
If you do your homework, we will go swimming.
Used as a reward or a planned treat.
Bei diesem Regen können wir auf der Straße schwimmen gehen!
With this rain, we can go swimming in the street!
A common joke when it rains very heavily.
Ich muss dringend mal wieder im Meer schwimmen gehen.
I urgently need to go swimming in the sea again.
Expresses a longing for travel or relaxation.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'gehen'.
Heute ist es warm. Wir ___ heute schwimmen.
Since the subject is 'wir' (we), the verb 'gehen' must be conjugated as 'gehen'.
Where does the word 'schwimmen' go in this question?
Willst du morgen ___ ___?
In German, the activity verb 'schwimmen' usually precedes the movement verb 'gehen' when used as an infinitive at the end of a question.
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Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'schwimmen gehen'
Texting friends about a lake trip.
Lust auf schwimmen gehen?
Standard conversation with anyone.
Ich gehe heute schwimmen.
Discussing health or hobbies in an interview.
In meiner Freizeit gehe ich gerne schwimmen.
Where to use 'schwimmen gehen'
At the Office
Talking about morning fitness.
With Friends
Planning a trip to the lake.
On Vacation
Asking about the hotel pool.
At Home
Deciding on family activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
11 questions'Schwimmen' is the verb for the physical act. 'Schwimmen gehen' refers to the whole outing or activity of going to a place to swim.
Yes, you can say im Meer schwimmen gehen. It works for any body of water.
The most natural way is Ich war schwimmen. You can also say Ich bin schwimmen gegangen, but it sounds a bit more formal.
Absolutely. It is a neutral phrase. You can say Ich gehe gerne schwimmen when talking about your hobbies.
No, in this phrase, 'schwimmen' is treated as a verb, so it remains lowercase unless it starts the sentence.
Yes, that is very precise. It means 'I am going to the swimming pool to swim.'
Baden gehen is more about relaxing in the water or taking a dip. It is less about the sport and more about the fun.
In summer, it usually refers to the Freibad (outdoor pool) or lake. In winter, it refers to the Hallenbad (indoor pool).
Yes, though for a very quick one, Germans might say kurz ins Wasser springen.
It is two separate words. You conjugate the second word gehen and keep schwimmen at the end.
It is a culturally ingrained habit for health and socializing. Many Germans see it as the perfect 'Feierabend' (end of work) activity.
Related Phrases
baden gehen (to go for a dip/bathe)
spazieren gehen (to go for a walk)
ins Wasser springen (to jump into the water)
eine Runde drehen (to do a lap/round)
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