se baigner = to bath or to bathe

Bonjour à tous, When did we start spelling bathe as bath in English? Do a search in phrase finder for "baigner" http://members.rocketlanguages.com/Toolbox/ It comes up with two entries (both wrong) To bath oneself To bath, to swim From Antidote: Se baigner : se plonger dans un liquide, pour s’amuser, nager. Se baigner dans une rivière. Je me baigne dans la rivière tous les soirs, puis je dîne en compagnie de Julio, tout en continuant à retourner mes phrases. Gustave Flaubert, Correspondance, vol. 4, http://gallica.bnf.fr/ Bonne Journée, Jason

Both bath and bathe are correct English words. Bath is a noun, as in "He takes a bath." Bathe is a verb, as in "He bathes himself." Bath is also a verb, as in "He has water to bath himself." When used as a verb, I think Bath is only used in the infinitive (to bath) and isn't congugated as is bathe. Because English has regional differences (e.g. UK English, American English, Canadian English, etc.) bath and bathe could be used differently in different parts of the world.

I am not sure we can say "He has water to bath himself." Did you find a reference for that? * See below, I found a reference and you are right, the British say this, but it's really low #12 in the dictionary... and it doesn't capture the idea behind "se baigner". There is no form with the "to bath." Here's my reference: http://www.verb2verbe.com/FrenchConj.aspx?verb=baigner&tail=&ref=0 Do you see any error in that material? Here's the English link (I can't find to bath) http://www.verb2verbe.com/EnglishConj.aspx?verb=bathe&tail=&type=query -Jason

Bonjour! Interesting that this point has come up in the lessons because it was something that confused me many years ago when I was learning English. 'To bath' can only be used in the sense of washing oneself in the bath, whereas 'to bathe' has a broader meaning which encompassing bathing at the beach, in hot springs, spas etc. This is the distinction that I make. I hope this helps! - Marie-Claire

How about: to immerse oneself: se baigner I would hate to mess up the write-it tests, but perhaps to immerse oneself is perfect as this would work well since it conveys the idea without ever even trying to find the proper regional word in English. Look at the phrases below (swim, engrossed in music, swimming in the ocean, washing onself with milky product, and somebody that doesn't want to take their clothes off). Larousse: http://goo.gl/s5Zq7W à quelle heure on se baigne? what time shall we go for our swim? (Antidote) 1) Geneviève et Axel passèrent les trois semaines suivantes à se baigner dans la musique. Élizabeth Filion, le Fils de la légende, Québec Amérique 2) Elle passe la majeure partie de son enfance dans la capitale Tbilissi puis dans la ville de Batoumi où elle adore se baigner dans la mer Noire. 3) J’y avais versé le produit laiteux dans lequel ma mère adorait se baigner... Lire.fr 4) Et comme je ne suis pas exhibitionniste, je préfère encore mieux ne pas du tout me baigner. Élyse Poudrier, Des vacances à temps partiel, Québec Amérique Also, I found a source for the regional problem: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Bath 12. Brit. to wash or soak in a bath. If you bath someone, you wash them in a long rectangular container Bath is not a verb in American English. Americans use bathe (see the next section). Maybe I read it wrong the first time or team has already changed the first one but not yet the second. Se baigner To bathe oneself (corrected but missing the swim concept behind the word) 4.8 Self Awareness (Part 1) http://members.rocketlanguages.com/lessons/221 Se baigner To bath, to swim 10.5 Pronominal Verbs http://members.rocketlanguages.com/lessons/514 -Jason