Why "breath" and "breathe" aren't the same

How long can you hold your breath? Or maybe you're more into deep breathing techniques? In today's article, we'll discuss the difference between "breath" and "breathe" in English. 

Breath

The word "breath" refers to the air that you take into your lungs when you inhale and let out when you exhale. It is a noun and can be used in various contexts related to the air moving in and out of your lungs.

"Take a deep breath before you start speaking."

"His breath smells like coffee."

"Paula could see her breath in the cold winter air."

The term "breath" also refers to instances of breathing, such as taking a deep breath. For example,

"The baby's breath was gentle and rhythmic."

"After running up the hill, she paused to catch her breath."

"He took a deep breath before diving into the pool."

Breathe

On the flip side, "breathe" is a verb. It describes the action of taking in air and expelling it from the lungs.

"Just breathe calmly to relax."

"It's hard to breathe in smoggy air."

"Fish breathe oxygen dissolved in water through their gills."

It is also used to describe the act of relaxing or calming down Some examples include:

"Athletes learn to breathe efficiently during exercise."

"She loves to breathe in the fresh mountain air every morning."

"After the stressful meeting, Jared stepped outside to breathe and clear his mind."

Now that you know the difference, take a deep breath and let go of your doubts.

And if you're all about getting the best tips on the English language, Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs is your next stop.