Translation guide
The English word 'skate' can refer to the activity of moving on skates (ice, roller, inline) or to the fish (skate/ray). This guide focuses on the activity meaning, which is the most common for learners. The fish meaning is niche and included for completeness.
To move on ice using ice skates
Let's go ice skating. · I learned to skate when I was five.
The most common and general way to say 'to skate' (on ice). スケート is a loanword from English.
冬に湖でスケートをした。
I skated on the lake in winter.
Explicitly 'ice skate'. Used when context doesn't make it clear or to distinguish from roller skating.
彼女はアイススケートが上手だ。
She is good at ice skating.
Means 'to glide' or 'to slide'. Can be used for skating in a descriptive sense, but スケートをする is much more common for the activity.
リンクの上を滑った。
I glided across the rink.
To move on wheels using roller skates or inline skates
The kids are roller skating in the driveway. · He bought new inline skates.
Standard for 'roller skate'. Covers both traditional quad skates and inline skates in many contexts.
公園でローラースケートをした。
I roller skated in the park.
Specifically 'inline skate'. Use when distinguishing from traditional roller skates.
インラインスケートで通勤している。
I commute using inline skates.
From the brand Rollerblade. Sometimes used generically for inline skating, but インラインスケート is more neutral.
週末にローラーブレードを楽しんでいる。
I enjoy rollerblading on weekends.
To ride a skateboard
He skates to school every day. · I want to learn how to skate.
Literally 'ride a skateboard'. The most natural way to express the activity.
彼は毎日スケートボードに乗っている。
He rides his skateboard every day.
Casual abbreviation of スケートボード. Very common in spoken Japanese.
放課後、みんなでスケボーに乗った。
After school, we all went skateboarding.
Also used, but 乗る is more common for the action of riding. する can imply the broader activity or sport.
スケートボードをするのは楽しい。
Skateboarding is fun.
Referring to the flat sea fish
Skate is a type of fish. · I ordered skate wing at the restaurant.
General term for rays and skates. In culinary contexts, often refers to skate wing.
市場で新鮮なエイを買った。
I bought fresh skate at the market.
Specifically 'skate' (a type of ray). Used in biological or precise contexts.
ガンギエイは深海に生息する。
Skates inhabit the deep sea.
In Japanese, スケート alone almost always means ice skating. For skateboarding, use スケートボード or スケボー.
For ice/roller skating, use 〜をする. For skateboarding, 〜に乗る is more natural than 〜をする, though both are possible.
スケートできますか？
Can you skate?