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.
1. JAMMER (noun)
Non-swimmer definition: A device that blocks signals.
Swimmer definition: The tight, knee-length swimsuit worn by male athletes.
Example: “Do you prefer to wear jammers or briefs for practice?”
2. ON THE TOP (phrase)
Non-swimmer definition: Standing or sitting on top of something.
Swimmer definition: Starting when the pace clock reaches the top of the minute interval.
Example: “We are doing 10 x 100 freestyle on the top.”
3. CIRCLE SWIMMING (noun)
Non-swimmer definition: Swimming in a circle.
Swimmer definition: The complicated art of sharing a lane with multiple people without crashing into anyone.
Example: “We’re circle swimming, so stay to the right both directions.”
4. THRESHOLD (noun)
Non-swimmer definition: A doorway or a point where something starts.
Swimmer definition: A challenging training pace that pushes you to work hard while maintaining a controlled, sustainable effort over repeated swims. It’s hard enough to hurt, but not quite an all-out sprint.
Example: “We’re doing 8 × 100 at threshold pace, so don’t go out too fast.”
5. BREAKOUT (noun)
Non-swimmer definition: An escape from somewhere.
Swimmer definition: 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.
Example: “Your turns looked great, but you need to work on your breakout off the wall.”
6. TECH SUIT (noun)
Non-swimmer definition: A fancy suit
Swimmer definition: A ridiculously expensive competitive swimsuit that takes 20 minutes to put on and is supposedly worth every penny when you’re racing.
Example: “I’m not wearing my tech suit for this meet—it’s just a dual meet.”
7. VERTICAL KICK (noun)
Non-swimmer definition: Kicking your legs while standing upright.
Swimmer definition: A kick set performed vertically in deep water, with your head above the surface and your feet kicking to keep you afloat. It’s a serious leg workout disguised as staying in one place.
Example: “We’re doing six rounds of 30 seconds of vertical kick, no hands on the wall!”
8. BROKEN (adjective)
Non-swimmer definition: Damaged or no longer working.
Swimmer definition: 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.
Example: “We’re doing a broken 800, swimming four 200s with 15 seconds rest between each one.”
9. DESCEND (verb)
Non-swimmer definition: To go downward.
Swimmer definition: Swimming progressively faster with each repeat.
Example: “Four 100s, descend 1–4.”
10. IM (noun)
Non-swimmer definition: An instant message you send someone.
Swimmer definition: Abbreviation for Individual Medley: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle in that order.
Example: “I’m swimming the 200 IM at the meet this weekend.”
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’ll know they’re not speaking another language—they’re just speaking swim.
