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natare

to swim

verb nah-TAH-reh Less Common
Body & Health Movement

Origin: From Latin natare (to swim), frequentative of nare (to swim, float).

Usage Note

Natare is an archaic and literary verb for swimming; standard modern Italian uses nuotare (which itself derives from Latin natare). It takes avere as auxiliary: ho natato. In everyday speech you will almost always hear nuotare instead, as in the set phrase nuotare come un pesce (to swim like a fish).

Examples

"Mi piace natare in mare d'estate."

Natural Translation

I like swimming in the sea in summer.

Literal Translation

To-me pleases to-swim in sea in-summer

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