{"id":654965,"date":"2026-10-09T02:26:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T09:26:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=654965"},"modified":"2026-10-09T05:27:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T12:27:01","slug":"swimmer-to-english-10-words-and-phrases-only-swimmers-understand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/swimmer-to-english-10-words-and-phrases-only-swimmers-understand\/","title":{"rendered":"Swimmer to English: 10 Words and Phrases Only Swimmers Understand"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>To the average person, a breakout sounds like an escape. A jammer is a device that blocks signals. Circle swimming sounds like swimming in circles. But to those in the sport, these terms have entirely different meanings. Swimming has its own language, filled with unique terminology, pool-deck slang, and phrases that only make sense to those who have spent countless hours in the water. From everyday practice to race day, here are 10 swimming terms and phrases that every swimmer knows but might leave everyone else scratching their heads.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. JAMMER (noun)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"467\" data-end=\"737\"><strong data-start=\"467\" data-end=\"494\">Non-swimmer definition:<\/strong> A device that blocks signals.<br data-start=\"513\" data-end=\"516\" \/><strong data-start=\"516\" data-end=\"539\">Swimmer definition:<\/strong> The tight, knee-length swimsuit worn by male athletes.\u00a0<br data-start=\"665\" data-end=\"668\" \/><strong data-start=\"668\" data-end=\"680\">Example:<\/strong> \u201cDo you prefer to wear jammers or briefs for practice?\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. ON THE TOP (phrase)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong data-start=\"467\" data-end=\"494\">Non-swimmer definition:<\/strong> Standing or sitting on top of something.<br data-start=\"513\" data-end=\"516\" \/><strong data-start=\"516\" data-end=\"539\">Swimmer definition:<\/strong> Starting when the pace clock reaches the top of the minute interval.<br data-start=\"665\" data-end=\"668\" \/><strong data-start=\"668\" data-end=\"680\">Example:\u00a0<\/strong>&#8220;We are doing 10 x 100 freestyle on the top.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. CIRCLE SWIMMING (noun)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong data-start=\"1076\" data-end=\"1103\">Non-swimmer definition:<\/strong> Swimming in a circle.<br data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1128\" \/><strong data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1151\">Swimmer definition:<\/strong> The complicated art of sharing a lane with multiple people without crashing into anyone.<br data-start=\"1251\" data-end=\"1254\" \/><strong data-start=\"1254\" data-end=\"1266\">Example:<\/strong> \u201cWe&#8217;re circle swimming, so stay to the right both directions.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. THRESHOLD (noun)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"w6asjq_TextBase _85PZeG_Text PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-d-text-flow=\"\" data-d-component=\"text\"><span class=\"w6asjq_TextBase _85PZeG_Text\" data-d-text-flow=\"\" data-d-component=\"text\" data-d-default-strong=\"\" data-d-inline=\"\"><strong data-start=\"1076\" data-end=\"1103\">Non-swimmer definition:<\/strong> A doorway or a point where something starts.<br data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1128\" \/><strong data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1151\">Swimmer definition:<\/strong> A challenging training pace that pushes you to work hard while maintaining a controlled, sustainable effort over repeated swims. It&#8217;s hard enough to hurt, but not quite an all-out sprint.<br data-start=\"1251\" data-end=\"1254\" \/><strong data-start=\"1254\" data-end=\"1266\">Example:<\/strong> \u201cWe&#8217;re doing 8 \u00d7 100 at threshold pace, so don&#8217;t go out too fast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>5. BREAKOUT (noun)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"w6asjq_TextBase _85PZeG_Text\" data-d-text-flow=\"\" data-d-component=\"text\" data-d-default-strong=\"\" data-d-inline=\"\"><strong data-start=\"1076\" data-end=\"1103\">Non-swimmer definition:<\/strong> An escape from somewhere.<br data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1128\" \/><strong data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1151\">Swimmer definition:<\/strong> The moment one transitions from their underwater streamline and kicks into surface swimming after a start or turn. A strong breakout helps carry speed from underwater into the first strokes.<br data-start=\"1251\" data-end=\"1254\" \/><strong data-start=\"1254\" data-end=\"1266\">Example:<\/strong> \u201cYour turns looked great, but you need to work on your breakout off the wall.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>6. TECH SUIT (noun)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"w6asjq_TextBase _85PZeG_Text\" data-d-text-flow=\"\" data-d-component=\"text\" data-d-default-strong=\"\" data-d-inline=\"\"><strong data-start=\"1076\" data-end=\"1103\">Non-swimmer definition:<\/strong> A fancy suit<br data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1128\" \/><strong data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1151\">Swimmer definition:<\/strong> A ridiculously expensive competitive swimsuit that takes 20 minutes to put on and is supposedly worth every penny when you&#8217;re racing.<br data-start=\"1251\" data-end=\"1254\" \/><strong data-start=\"1254\" data-end=\"1266\">Example:<\/strong> \u201cI&#8217;m not wearing my tech suit for this meet\u2014it&#8217;s just a dual meet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>7. VERTICAL KICK (noun)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"w6asjq_TextBase _85PZeG_Text\" data-d-text-flow=\"\" data-d-component=\"text\" data-d-default-strong=\"\" data-d-inline=\"\"><strong data-start=\"1076\" data-end=\"1103\">Non-swimmer definition:<\/strong> Kicking your legs while standing upright.<br data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1128\" \/><strong data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1151\">Swimmer definition:<\/strong> A kick set performed vertically in deep water, with your head above the surface and your feet kicking to keep you afloat. It&#8217;s a serious leg workout disguised as staying in one place.<br data-start=\"1251\" data-end=\"1254\" \/><strong data-start=\"1254\" data-end=\"1266\">Example:<\/strong> \u201cWe&#8217;re doing six rounds of 30 seconds of vertical kick, no hands on the wall!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>8. BROKEN (adjective)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"w6asjq_TextBase _85PZeG_Text\" data-d-text-flow=\"\" data-d-component=\"text\" data-d-default-strong=\"\" data-d-inline=\"\"><strong data-start=\"1076\" data-end=\"1103\">Non-swimmer definition:<\/strong> Damaged or no longer working.<br data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1128\" \/><strong data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1151\">Swimmer definition:<\/strong> A swim divided into shorter segments with brief rest periods between them, allowing athletes to practice race pace and pacing strategy without swimming the entire distance continuously.<br data-start=\"1251\" data-end=\"1254\" \/><strong data-start=\"1254\" data-end=\"1266\">Example:<\/strong> \u201cWe&#8217;re doing a broken 800, swimming four 200s with 15 seconds rest between each one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>9. DESCEND (verb)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"w6asjq_TextBase _85PZeG_Text\" data-d-text-flow=\"\" data-d-component=\"text\" data-d-default-strong=\"\" data-d-inline=\"\"><strong data-start=\"1076\" data-end=\"1103\">Non-swimmer definition:<\/strong> To go downward.<br data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1128\" \/><strong data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1151\">Swimmer definition:<\/strong> Swimming progressively faster with each repeat.<br data-start=\"1251\" data-end=\"1254\" \/><strong data-start=\"1254\" data-end=\"1266\">Example:<\/strong> \u201cFour 100s, descend 1\u20134.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>10. IM (noun)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"w6asjq_TextBase _85PZeG_Text\" data-d-text-flow=\"\" data-d-component=\"text\" data-d-default-strong=\"\" data-d-inline=\"\"><strong data-start=\"1076\" data-end=\"1103\">Non-swimmer definition:<\/strong> An instant message you send someone.<br data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1128\" \/><strong data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1151\">Swimmer definition:<\/strong> Abbreviation for Individual Medley: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle in that order.\u00a0<br data-start=\"1251\" data-end=\"1254\" \/><strong data-start=\"1254\" data-end=\"1266\">Example:<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019m swimming the 200 IM at the meet this weekend.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>To someone outside the sport, these 10 terms and phrases might sound confusing, or even a little strange. So the next time you hear a swimmer talking about a breakout, a broken set, or descending on the top, you\u2019ll know they\u2019re not speaking another language\u2014they\u2019re just speaking swim.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To the average person, a breakout sounds like an escape. A jammer is a device that blocks signals. Circle swimming sounds like swimming in circles. But to those in the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":184759,"featured_media":115926,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,122607],"tags":[138489,138488],"class_list":["post-654965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-swim-life","tag-phrases","tag-swimmer-terms"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\r\n<title>10 Words and Phrases Only a Swimmer Understands<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Swimmers have their own unique vocabulary. 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