Breath and breathe, these words may seem similar but they fall into different categories within the English parts of speech. There are words that are derived from the above such as: breathed, breaths, and breathing… it can get complex but we will break it down for you. Our goal is to empower you so that you can confidently include these words in your daily conversational English.
In a nutshell, breath is a noun, and breathe is a verb. Breath refers to the actual object, being the air that is physically being brought in and out of our lungs. Breathe refers to the physical action that is being done by you or another, it is the taking in of air and expulsion of it.
If the difference between breathe and breath is confusing you, then maybe pop over to AmazingTalker for some beginner English lessons.
Breathe vs Breath: Meaning
Let’s dive into the meaning of these words, with some help from our trusted friend called the dictionary!
Breath: the air taken into or expelled from the lungs.
Breathe: take air into the lungs and then expel it, especially as a regular physiological process.
Both of these definitions are referring to the same action, but breath is a noun, and breathe is a verb. The difference in the part of speech determines how these words are used within a sentence and how they can be changed. Isn’t it amazing how one letter, like an ‘e’ in this example, has the ability to change the meaning of a word completely? Another example of how one letter can change a word completely is to and too. The difference between to and too is simple: to is a preposition, which is used to indicate a place or direction. The word too is an adverb that is a synonym for words such as “as well”, “additionally”, “extremely”, “plus” and more.
There are many words with multiple meanings in the English language, and other languages, which is why spelling and a proper understanding of every word are very important. Some languages have dangerously different meanings… one word could have a negative meaning and one a positive, so you definitely need to make sure you understand what you are saying to people!
| Breath | Breathe |
|---|---|
| Noun | Verb |
| The air that goes in and out of your lungs | The act of moving air in and out of your lungs |
| Breath rhymes with death | Breathe rhymes with seethe |
| Eating too much garlic with make your breath smell very bad. | I told her to breathe because she was having a panic attack. |
How to Use: Breath vs Breathe
Have you been more conscious of your breath while reading this article? Well, we hope you will breathe better once you’ve gone through it all!
The sentences below showcase the differences between these two words, here are some more examples for you to deepen your grasp between breath vs breathe:
Breath as a Noun
The word breath is always used as a noun, it can describe the object of an action or be used as a reference. The holding of your breath*,* is a way to describe the air that you are not letting go of. Using the word breath as a reference, to a full cycle of breathing, would be to ask someone to take 3 deep **breaths before they continue speaking to you. It can also signify a moment of rest or pause, in a situation such as, “I needed to catch my breath before I could continue speaking to my friend”.
An unusual, but common way of using the word breath is when you are speaking about the wind. This describes a very small and gentle flow of wind that comes in contact with your body or your surroundings.
- There was not a breath of wind this evening, it was such a lovely summer’s night.
- The ocean has tiny ripples on the surface, due to the breath of wind moving over it.
Examples:
- I start to run out of breath after 6kms of running**.**
- He let out a deep breath, which showed he was relaxed.
- I am going on a date tonight, so I made sure to buy chewing gum for a minty breath!
- My grandpa took his last breath on Sunday evening, I am very heartbroken.
- I whispered under my breath so that my teacher wouldn’t hear me complaining about her class.
Breathe as a Verb
The word breathe or breathing is usually used to refer to the action of a human taking in air and releasing carbon dioxide from the lungs, in order to stay alive. When you use the word breathe to refer to air or a breath, it can be a transitive or intransitive verb.
A transitive verb requires a direct object in the sentence, this sentence will answer the question what? or whom?
She was so close to me, that she breathed her garlic scent into my face.
We all breathed in the fresh air and instantly felt better.
An intransitive verb does not come with a direct object and answers a different question than a transitive verb. The sentence will answer one of the following: where?, when?, how?, or how long?.
I breathed deeply and sat down after my dinner guests left.
We used a special breathing technique this afternoon to help with anxiety.
This verb can also be used to describe an object that is allowing air to flow freely through or around it. You might hear someone mention clothes breathing or even their bottle of wine! These are considered intransitive verbs, take a look at some examples:
I just opened up a lovely bottle of Shiraz from 2019, but we have to let it breathe before we can pour a glass for our guests.
I put my wet clothes in my bag after the beach, so now they aren’t smelling so fresh, therefore I am going to let them breathe a bit.
Examples
- Oxygen changes into carbon dioxide when we breathe out.
- It can be hard to breathe in a sauna, as the air is humid and feels thicker.
- I have to remind myself to breathe consciously when I am feeling overwhelmed with my work.
- Go into the forest and see how much easier it is to breathe in that fresh air.
- A chemical reaction takes place when trees breathe, just as it does when humans breathe.
Using Breathe and Breath in idioms
Breathe down
I was very frustrated at my boss because I couldn’t do anything without him breathing down my neck.
Explanation: To watch someone so closely and make them feel very pressured.
Breathe easily again
He was able to breathe easily again when he knew that he wasn’t going to lose his job.
Explanation: To relax after a period of a lot of stress.
A breath of fresh air
My new friend has been a breath of fresh air in my life because she is so supportive and cares so much about me.
Explanation: Someone who is joyful and adds new energy into the space they walk into.
Breathe a word
You mustn’t breathe a word of Jack’s surprise party in the house, because I don’t want him overhearing our conversation.
Explanation: Something or someone must be kept a secret.
Hold one’s breath
She shouldn’t hold her breath for her boyfriend to propose, he told me that he doesn’t ever want to get married.
Explanation: Don’t stop breathing while waiting for something that won’t ever happen.
Time to breathe
I have hardly had time to breathe since we picked up these new construction projects.
Explanation: When someone is very busy and doesn’t get a break.
FAQ: Breathe vs Breath
The biggest difference between these two words is the type of speech category they fall into. Breathe is a verb, whereas breath is a noun. Their meanings are completely different and therefore will be used uniquely in a sentence, you cannot replace them with one another in a phrase.
If breathe is a verb and breath is a noun, wouldn’t it make grammatical sense for it to be: “take a breath.”
Take is your verb in this sentence because it signifies your action, therefore you need a noun to complete the sentence. A well-structured sentence cannot have two verbs in it without a noun, the word breath is required in order for the action word, take, to perform the physical act.
Now, Take a Breath to Learn More
Let’s inhale again through our noses for 5 seconds and exhale through our mouths. Doesn’t that feel amazing? Your body automatically relaxes and your brain’s thought process slows down. The breath is a very important aspect of life, and so is understanding how to use the word! Now you understand all the differences between breathe vs breath. We hope that our team at AmazingTalker helped you understand the difference between breathe and breath. If you still aren’t sure, we would be happy to find you a tutor. Learning a new language can be challenging, but we trust you will get it right, break a leg!
