Key Facts
- Hangul: 수영; Revised Romanization: suyeong
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 水泳 (水 water + 泳 swim)
- Register: Neutral.
Swimming in Korean: What Does 수영 Mean?
수영 means swimming. It is neutral. Its everyday partners are 수영을 하다 (swim), 수영장 (swimming pool) and 수영복 (swimsuit). A native word, 헤엄, also means swimming; it is more basic and informal. One stem therefore gives three everyday nouns: the activity 수영, the place 수영장 and the clothing 수영복, and each can be asked for in a single word at a sports centre or shop.
How Do You Pronounce 수영?
Two syllables, su and yeong. The first vowel is u with rounded lips, and the second syllable has a y glide followed by eo and ng. Do not add a g sound after ng.
Example Sentences with 수영
저는 수영을 배워요.
jeoneun suyeongeul baewoyo.
I am learning to swim.
배워요 is the verb to learn. 을 marks 수영 as the thing being learned, so this is how you mention a class.
여름에 바다에서 수영해요.
yeoreume badaeseo suyeonghaeyo.
I swim at the sea in summer.
바다에서 is "at the sea". 수영해요 is the verb form of the noun, with 여름에 giving the season.
수영장은 어디에 있어요?
suyeongjangeun eodie isseoyo?
Where is the swimming pool?
수영장 puts 장 (place) after 수영, so it is a pool. 어디에 있어요 asks where.
Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 수영을 하다 | swim |
| 수영장 | swimming pool |
| 수영복 | swimsuit |
The Mistake to Avoid
English "swim" is a verb, so learners try to use 수영 as one.
Wrong: treating 수영 as a verb, for example ending a sentence with a bare 수영
Correct: 수영하다 or 수영을 하다, as in 여름에 바다에서 수영해요
수영 Compared with 헤엄 and 수영장
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 수영 | swimming | This page's word |
| 헤엄 | swimming | swimming (native word, more basic and informal) |
| 수영장 | swimming pool | swimming pool |
Where Does the Word Come From?
수영 is Sino-Korean, written 水泳 in hanja: 水 (water) plus 泳 (swim).
At the Pool: Joining a Beginner Class
A visitor asks about lessons at a sports centre. The receptionist needs to know the visitor’s level before suggesting a class.
Visitor
수영을 배우고 싶어요.
Suyeongeul baeugo sipeoyo.
I want to learn to swim.
Receptionist
수영은 처음이에요?
Suyeongeun cheoeumieyo?
Is this your first time swimming?
Visitor
네, 처음이에요.
Ne, cheoeumieyo.
Yes, it is my first time.
Receptionist
그럼 초급반에 등록하세요.
Geureom chogeubbane deungnokaseyo.
Then sign up for the beginner class.
배우고 싶어요 means “want to learn”. The visitor names the skill, 수영, rather than the building, 수영장. 처음이에요 says this is a first experience; it does not mean “I am first in line”. 초급반 is a beginner class, and 등록하세요 is a polite instruction to register.
The receptionist repeats 수영 with 은 to make swimming the topic. The visitor can then answer without repeating the noun. This is useful when someone asks about your experience: a short answer can still be complete and polite.
Which Swimming Phrases Will You Actually Use?
수영을 배우다 means “learn to swim”, while 수영을 잘하다 means “be good at swimming”. These are literal combinations, not idioms. The first describes learning a skill; the second describes ability. Someone who takes lessons may still be a beginner, so attending a class does not automatically imply the second phrase.
수영을 못하다 means “cannot swim” or “be poor at swimming”, depending on context. 못 focuses on inability. 수영을 안 하다 means “not swim”, which can describe a choice. That distinction matters when a friend suggests going into the water: inability and lack of interest give different reasons for declining.
자유 수영 means swimming independently during an open session. 자유형 means freestyle, a swimming stroke. On a timetable, the first tells you about the session; the second tells you about the technique. Seeing 자유 수영 does not mean everyone must swim freestyle.
Where Will You See 수영 outside a Dictionary?
Sports-centre schedules use 수영 강습 for swimming lessons. Look for the class level and time beside it. A schedule may separate 초급반, the beginner group, from more advanced groups. The headword tells you the activity, but the accompanying label tells you which class fits.
In conversation about hobbies, 수영 is the usual sport name. 헤엄 focuses more on moving through water and commonly pairs with 치다 in 헤엄을 치다. You can describe a dog or fish swimming with that expression. 수영 remains the straightforward choice when introducing your own exercise routine or discussing a competition.
수영장 names the pool facility, while 바다 names the sea. In the existing summer example, 바다에서 locates the swimming activity. At a reception desk, a question about 수영장 can instead ask where the facility is, without saying that you plan to take a lesson.
Pool Words to Learn Alongside 수영
| Korean | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 수영복 | swimsuit | Clothing worn for swimming, not ordinary gym clothes. |
| 수영모 | swimming cap | Covers the hair; a separate item from the swimsuit. |
| 수경 | swimming goggles | The goggles used in the water. |
| 탈의실 | changing room | The room for changing before or after a swim. |
The sports vocabulary lesson places swimming beside other activities. The three equipment words above help you understand a pool’s preparation list. A list of required items describes what to bring; it does not necessarily mean those items are included with admission or available to borrow.
Quick Self-Test
- Which word names the facility: 수영 or 수영장?
- Does 자유 수영 mean the freestyle stroke?
- Which expression describes ability: 수영을 잘하다 or 수영을 배우다?
Show answers
- 수영장 is the swimming pool; 수영 is the activity.
- No. It means an open swimming session. 자유형 is freestyle.
- 수영을 잘하다 means to be good at swimming. 수영을 배우다 means to learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "swimming" in Korean?
Say 수영 (suyeong).
How do you say "to swim" in Korean?
Say 수영하다 or 수영을 하다.
How do you say "swimming pool" in Korean?
Say 수영장.
What is 헤엄?
헤엄 is a native word for swimming, more basic and informal than 수영.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: the Sports page puts 수영 beside its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 수영 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in the list is the word for taekwondo: see taekwondo.