dog-paddle

IPA/ˈdɒɡ pædl/
IPA/ˈdɔːɡ pædl/

dog-paddle — noun

1. a simple way of staying afloat and moving through water, using short quick arm p

1.nounB1
Definition

a simple way of staying afloat and moving through water, using short quick arm pulls and kicking leg movements that are similar to the way a dog swims

Example

Asher stayed in the shallow end and practiced the dog-paddle until he felt confident.

collocation: practiced the dog-paddle

Amelia taught her younger brother the dog-paddle during their summer holiday at the beach.

collocation: taught [someone] the dog-paddle

Common collocations
  • do the dog-paddle
  • try a dog-paddle
  • use a dog-paddle
  • dog-paddle stroke
  • gentle dog-paddle
  • slow dog-paddle
Synonyms
  • doggy paddle

    the most common variant spelling; more frequent in British English and informal speech

  • dog paddle

    another common spelling variant without the hyphen

Grammar Patterns

the dog-paddle

do a dog-paddle

try the dog-paddle

Usage Note

Also written as 'doggy paddle' or 'dog paddle'. The form 'doggy paddle' is more common in British English. This stroke is typically the first swimming motion that beginners learn; it is not a formal competitive stroke. Although the source data lists only the noun form, 'to dog-paddle' is also used as a verb in everyday English (e.g., 'She dog-paddled across the pool').

Common Mistakes

He swam dog-paddle across the pool.
He used the dog-paddle to get across the pool.
'dog-paddle' is a noun naming the stroke, not an adverb. Use 'do the dog-paddle' or 'use a dog-paddle'.
She learned dog paddle stroke.
She learned the dog-paddle.
The definite article 'the' is usually needed before the name of this stroke.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Dog-paddle' (also 'doggy paddle' or 'dog paddle') refers to an informal, instinctive swimming motion that beginners often use naturally. 'Breaststroke' and 'front crawl' are formal competitive strokes with specific arm-and-leg techniques taught in swimming lessons. While a young child might use a dog-paddle to stay afloat for a few seconds, a swimmer doing breaststroke or front crawl follows a structured pattern of movement for speed and efficiency. In everyday conversation, parents say 'He can do a little dog-paddle' about a toddler in a pool, whereas they would say 'She learned breaststroke in her swimming class' about an older child taking lessons. The dog-paddle is not used in competitions or official swim tests, whereas breaststroke and front crawl are Olympic events.

doggy paddledog paddle ↗breaststroke ↗front crawl

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • do the dog-paddle
  • try a dog-paddle
  • use a dog-paddle
  • learn the dog-paddle

Prepositions

Etymology

EnglishEnglish

The word combines 'dog' (the animal) and 'paddle' (to move the hands and feet in water like paddles). The name comes from the obvious visual resemblance: the swimming motion looks very much like the way a dog moves its legs when swimming. First recorded in English in the early 20th century (around the 1910s–1920s). The variant 'doggy paddle' (using the childlike or affectionate form 'doggy') became popular later, especially in British English.

First known use

1874

1874, in the meaning defined above