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Swimming vocabulary for swimmers

Swimming has its own vocabulary for strokes, equipment, and technique, from freestyle and backstroke to buoyancy and flip turns. This list is useful for beginner swimmers, parents, and coaches who want the right words for describing a swim workout, lesson, or race.

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Swimming vocabulary for swimmers

30 words
WordMeaningIn a sentenceSave
freestylenounA swimming stroke, or any activity performed without fixed rules or a set routine.She set a new school record in the fifty-meter freestyle event.
backstrokenounA swimming stroke performed while lying on one's back and moving the arms in alternating circles.She set a new personal record in the hundred-meter backstroke at the meet.
breaststrokenounA swimming stroke performed face down, with symmetrical arm pulls and a frog-like kick.She won the race in the breaststroke by a full body length.
butterflynounAn insect with two pairs of often colorful wings that flies during the day.A yellow butterfly landed briefly on the edge of her notebook.
lapnounThe flat area formed by the upper legs of a seated person, or one complete circuit of a track or course.The cat curled up and fell asleep on her lap.
lanenounA narrow road, or a marked strip of a road, track, or pool reserved for a single line of traffic or one competitor.She merged into the left lane before making her turn.
diveverbTo plunge headfirst into water, or to drop suddenly and steeply.He took a deep breath and dove into the cold lake.
plungeverbTo fall, jump, or move suddenly and steeply downward or into something.He plunged into the cold lake without hesitating for even a second.
buoyancynounThe ability of an object to float in a liquid or rise in a gas.The life jacket's buoyancy kept her afloat easily until the rescue boat arrived.
floatverbTo rest on the surface of a liquid or hang suspended in air without sinking.The wooden raft floated gently down the calm river all afternoon.
paddlenounA short pole with a wide, flat blade used to propel and steer a small boat.She dipped the paddle into the water and turned the canoe toward the shore.
kickverbTo strike, push, or propel something forcefully using the foot or leg.The striker kicked the ball hard into the top corner of the net.
strokenounA sudden, serious medical condition caused by a blocked or burst blood vessel in the brain.He suffered a stroke last year but has since regained most of his speech.
gogglesnounProtective eyewear that fits closely around the eyes, used to shield them from water, dust, chemicals, or wind.She wore swimming goggles to keep the chlorine out of her eyes.
swimsuitnounA garment worn for swimming or other water activities.She packed a bright new swimsuit for the family beach vacation.
poolnounA small, contained body of still water, often built for swimming or found naturally in the landscape.The children spent the afternoon splashing in the backyard pool.
currentadjectiveBelonging to or happening in the present time.The current mayor has held office for three years now.
wadeverbTo walk through water, mud, or another substance that slows your steps.The children waded into the shallow end of the lake to cool off.
submergeverbTo put or go completely under the surface of water or another liquid.The divers submerged themselves to explore the sunken ship near the reef.
surfacenounThe outer or top layer of an object, area, or body of material.Water droplets gathered on the smooth surface of the marble countertop.
treading waterphraseStaying upright and afloat in water by moving the legs and arms without swimming forward.The lifeguard taught the children how to keep treading water while waiting for rescue.
lifeguardnounA person employed at a beach, pool, or water park to watch for swimmers in danger and rescue them if needed.The lifeguard blew her whistle and swam out to help the struggling child.
splashverbTo cause liquid to scatter in drops, or to move through water so that it scatters.The kids ran through the sprinkler, laughing as they splashed each other with water.
endurancenounThe ability to withstand hardship, pain, or continued physical or mental effort.Marathon runners train for years to build the endurance needed to finish the race.
relayverbTo receive information, a signal, or a message and pass it on to someone else.The dispatcher relayed the emergency call to the nearest available ambulance crew.
medleynounA varied mixture of things, or a musical piece combining parts of several different songs or tunes.The choir performed a medley of holiday songs at the concert.
dolphin kicknounA swimming technique in which both legs move together in a wave-like motion, used mainly in butterfly stroke.She practiced the dolphin kick underwater to gain speed off every turn.
flip turnnounA swimming technique in which a swimmer somersaults underwater to reverse direction and push off the wall at the end of a lap.She practiced her flip turn for weeks until she could push off the wall without losing speed.
chlorinenounA greenish-yellow chemical element used to purify water and manufacture various industrial products.The pool's strong smell came from the chlorine used to keep the water clean.
aquaticadjectiveRelating to or living, growing, or taking place in water rather than on land.Otters and beavers are aquatic mammals that spend much of their lives in rivers and lakes.

The four competitive strokes

Competitive swimming is built around four strokes, and knowing their names helps make sense of any race or lesson. Freestyle is the fastest and least restricted stroke, backstroke is swum on the back, breaststroke uses a frog-like kick, and butterfly combines a dolphin-kick with a simultaneous arm pull. A medley race combines all four in order.

Frequently asked questions

What are the basic vocabulary words for swimming strokes?

The four main strokes are freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly, and a medley event combines all four in a single race.