Nager Conjugation in French: Complete Tables, Rules & Pronunciation

The verb nager (to swim) is an indispensable regular verb belonging to the French first group (-er verbs). While it follows the predictable inflection pattern of typical -er verbs like parler or aimer, it includes an essential spelling modification common to all verbs ending in -ger (such as manger, voyager, and changer).

In this comprehensive guide, we break down how to conjugate nager across all primary indicative, conditional, and subjunctive tenses, detailing the spelling rule so you never make a mistake.

The Critical Spelling Rule for -ger Verbs

In French phonetics, the letter g produces a hard sound (/g/ as in gate) before the vowels a, o, and u, but a soft sound (/ʒ/ as in the "s" of measure) before e and i.

Because nager is pronounced with a soft sound (/na.ʒe/), French inserts an unpronounced "e" between the g and any ending that begins with a or o:

  • Present: Nous nageons (without the "e", it would incorrectly sound like na-gons).
  • Imperfect: Je nageais, tu nageais, il nageait, ils nageaient.
  • Crucial exception: In the nous and vous forms of the imperfect and present subjunctive, the suffix begins with i (-ions, -iez). Since the letter g before i naturally sounds soft, no extra "e" is required: nous nagions, vous nagiez.

    • Indicative Conjugation Tables

    Present (Présent de l'indicatif)

Used for habitual actions or actions happening right now.

Compound Past (Passé Composé)

French Pronoun Conjugated Form English Translation
Je nage I swim / I am swimming
Tu nages You swim (informal)
Il / Elle / On nage He / She / One swims
Nous nageons We swim
Vous nagez You swim (formal/plural)
Ils / Elles nagent They swim

The passé composé expresses completed actions in the past. Nager takes the auxiliary verb avoir and the regular past participle nagé.

  • J'ai nagé (I swam / I have swum)
  • Tu as nagé (You swam)
  • Il / Elle / On a nagé (He / She swam)
  • Nous avons nagé (We swam)
  • Vous avez nagé (You swam)
  • Ils / Elles ont nagé (They swam)

    • Imperfect (Imparfait)

Used to set the scene, describe ongoing habits, or express interrupted states in the past.

  • Je nageais
  • Tu nageais
  • Il / Elle / On nageait
  • Nous nagions (notice: no silent "e"!)
  • Vous nagiez (notice: no silent "e"!)
  • Ils / Elles nageaient

    • Simple Future (Futur Simple)

Used for anticipated future events. Simply attach standard future endings to the infinitive stem.

  • Je nagerai (I will swim)
  • Tu nageras
  • Il / Elle / On nagera
  • Nous nagerons
  • Vous nagerez
  • Ils / Elles nageront

    • Conditional & Subjunctive Moods

    Present Conditional (Conditionnel Présent)

Used for hypothetical situations or polite inquiries.

  • Je nagerais (I would swim)
  • Tu nagerais
  • Il / Elle / On nagerait
  • Nous nagerions
  • Vous nageriez
  • Ils / Elles nageraient

    • Present Subjunctive (Subjonctif Présent)

Triggered by expressions of emotion, doubt, or necessity (e.g., Il faut que...).

  • Que je nage
  • Que tu nages
  • Qu'il / elle / on nage
  • Que nous nagions
  • Que vous nagiez
  • Qu'ils / elles nagent

    • Imperative (Impératif Présent)

Used for commands and direct suggestions. Note that the singular tu form drops the final "s".

  • Nage ! (Swim! - singular/informal)
  • Nageons ! (Let's swim!)
  • Nagez ! (Swim! - formal/plural)

    • Popular French Idioms with Nager

Enhance your conversational fluency with these common native expressions:

  • Nager dans le bonheur — Lit. "to swim in happiness"; means to be in seventh heaven or overjoyed.
  • Nager entre deux eaux — Lit. "to swim between two waters"; means to remain neutral or avoid taking sides.
  • Nager dans ses vêtements — Means that someone's clothes are far too large for them.