Pronunciation: [swˈʌm] (IPA) 
The word "swum" is spelled with a silent "b" at the end, which can be confusing for some English learners. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced /swʌm/, with the "u" sounding like the "u" in "up" and the "a" sounding like the "a" in "fun". The silent "b" is a remnant of the Old English spelling of the word, which used to be "swumman". Despite the odd spelling, "swum" is a commonly used past participle of "swim" in English.
Swum is the past participle of the verb "swim". It is an irregular form of the verb that is used to express an action or state of having moved through water by propelling oneself using one's arms and legs. To swim is the act of moving one's body through water, typically by using a combination of arm and leg movements. Swum, therefore, indicates that someone or something has engaged in this activity in the past.
In a figurative sense, swum can also be used to describe being immersed in or deeply involved in something, such as an emotional state or a particular situation. It implies a sense of being engulfed or surrounded by a specific experience or circumstance.
The irregular conjugation of "swim" makes its past participle, swum, unique compared to regular verbs that generally add a suffix like -ed or -d to form the past participle. This verb form is used in various tenses, such as the present perfect ("I have swum"), the past perfect ("They had swum"), and the future perfect ("She will have swum") to demonstrate an action completed in the past.
Overall, swum signifies the past participation in swimming or the state of immersion in something, providing a comprehensive understanding of the word's various contexts and meanings.
Of swim, which see.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "swum" comes from the verb "swim". The etymology of "swim" can be traced back to the Old English word "swimman", which meant "to float or move on or in water". This Old English word is thought to have originated from the related Proto-Germanic word "*swemjaną". Ultimately, the origin can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*swem-" which meant "to be in motion". Over time, the word "swim" has evolved to include various tenses and forms, including "swum" as the past participle.
