Why does the noun Schwimmen have the article das?

Nominalized infinitives (verbs used as nouns) are always neuter.

Examples

das Essen (eating/food), das Trinken (drinking), das Lesen (reading), das Schreiben (writing), das Leben (life), das Schwimmen (swimming)

Exceptions

No exceptions when truly nominalized

Declension table for German noun Schwimmen

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdas Schwimmenein Schwimmenkein Schwimmen
Akkusativdas Schwimmenein Schwimmenkein Schwimmen
Dativdem Schwimmeneinem Schwimmenkeinem Schwimmen
Genitivdes Schwimmenseines Schwimmenskeines Schwimmens

Examples in context

Real sentences using Schwimmen in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Das neue Schwimmen ist schwer.The new swimming is difficult.
Ein neues Schwimmen macht Spaß.A new swimming makes fun.
Kein neues Schwimmen ist leicht.No new swimming is easy.
Akkusativ
Ich mag das neue Schwimmen sehr.I like the new swimming very much.
Er lernt ein neues Schwimmen.He learns a new swimming.
Sie übt kein neues Schwimmen.She practices no new swimming.
Dativ
Ich widme mich dem neuen Schwimmen.I dedicate myself to the new swimming.
Ich bin bei einem neuen Schwimmen.I am at a new swimming session.
Ich folge keinem neuen Schwimmen.I follow no new swimming.
Genitiv
Der Meister des neuen Schwimmens ist gut.The master of the new swimming is good.
Die Regeln eines eines neuen Schwimmens sind klar.The rules of a new swimming are clear.
Die Kosten keines keines neuen Schwimmens sind gering.The costs of no new swimming are low.

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Frequently asked questions

Everything you might wonder about der, die, das — and the Der Artikel app.

Is it der, die, or das Schwimmen?

It is das Schwimmen. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Schwimmen is neuter. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.

What is the plural of das Schwimmen?

The noun Schwimmen is typically used in the singular form (Singularetantum) or has a plural form identical to the singular.

What does das Schwimmen mean in English?

The German word das Schwimmen translates to “swimming” in English.

How do you decline das Schwimmen?

Like all German nouns, Schwimmen changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: das Schwimmen
  • Akkusativ: das Schwimmen
  • Dativ: dem Schwimmen
  • Genitiv: des Schwimmens

These changes are necessary because German uses cases to indicate the noun’s role in a sentence (such as the subject or object). Knowing these forms allows you to build grammatically correct sentences.