What it means
شنا کردن (shenâ kardan) is the standard Persian phrase for “to swim.” It is a compound verb formed from two native Persian words: شنا (shenâ), meaning swimming or the act of swimming, and کردن (kardan), the general-purpose verb meaning to do. Both components trace back to Old and Middle Persian with no Arabic or Turkic influence. The word شنا on its own can also refer to a push-up in everyday speech, so context matters. A close synonym heard in literary Persian is آببازی کردن (âb-bâzi kardan), literally to play in water, though this sounds more childlike.
How to use it
- هر روز صبح شنا میکنم. (har ruz sobh shenâ mikonam.) “I swim every morning.”
- بچهها دوست دارن توی دریا شنا کنن. (bachehâ dust dâran tuye daryâ shenâ konan.) “The kids love swimming in the sea.”
- یاد گرفتی شنا کنی؟ (yâd gerefti shenâ koni?) “Have you learned to swim?”
- استخر امروز بستهست، نمیتونیم شنا کنیم. (estakhr emruz basteast, nemitunim shenâ konim.) “The pool is closed today, we can’t swim.”
Cultural note
Swimming has a long history in Iranian culture. The Zayandeh River in Isfahan and the Caspian Sea coast have traditionally been popular spots for recreational swimming. In the Islamic Republic, public pools are gender-segregated, with separate sessions for men and women, and swimwear regulations apply. Iran has participated in international swimming competitions, and the sport is taught in physical education programs across the country.