Breath or breathe? “Breath” is a noun. It is the air you take in and let out. “Breathe” is a verb. It is the action of taking air in and out.
The two words look almost the same, so people mix them up often. Let’s make it simple.
Breath or Breathe: The Simple Rule
- Breath (no “e” at the end) is a thing. You take a breath.
- Breathe (with an “e” at the end) is an action. You breathe.
The sounds are different too. “Breath” sounds like “breth” with a short vowel and a soft “th.” “Breathe” sounds like “breeth” with a long vowel and a “th” like in “the.”
Correct Examples of “Breath”
- “Take a deep breath.”
- “I am out of breath after the run.”
- “She held her breath under water.”
- “I need a breath of fresh air.”
Correct Examples of “Breathe”
- “Please breathe slowly.”
- “It is hard to breathe in this smoke.”
- “Babies breathe faster than adults.”
- “Just relax and breathe.”
Incorrect Examples
- “Take a deep breathe.” (Wrong. It should be “breath.”)
- “I can’t breath in here.” (Wrong. It should be “breathe.”)
In the first sentence, you need a noun, so “breath” is right. In the second, you need a verb, so “breathe” is right.
Related Forms
These words come from “breathe,” so they keep the “e” in the middle:
- Breathes: “She breathes deeply.”
- Breathing: “His breathing is calm.”
- Breathed: “He breathed a sigh of relief.”
The word breathless comes from “breath,” so it has no “e” before “less.”
Quick Tip to Remember
The verb breathe is longer, and it has an extra “e.” Think of it this way: breathe takes more time, like the action of breathing, so it gets the extra letter.
Another trick: try “to” in front of the word. You can say “to breathe,” but not “to breath.” If “to” fits, write the longer word with the “e.”
Breath or Breathe: Quick FAQ
Is “breath” a verb?
No. “Breath” is a noun. The verb is “breathe.”
Which one do I use in “take a deep ___”?
Use “breath”: “Take a deep breath.” You can also say “Breathe deeply,” which uses the verb.
How do you say them?
“Breath” has a short vowel (like “breth”). “Breathe” has a long vowel and a voiced “th” (like “breeth”).
Final Thoughts
To sum up, “breath” is the noun and “breathe” is the verb. If you can put “to” in front, it is “breathe.” If it is something you take, it is “breath.”
The extra “e” in “breathe” also helps you remember that it is the action word. Another pair where one small change shifts the word is choose vs chose.
With a bit of practice, this pair gets easy. Just take a deep breath, and breathe out the worry. Another look-alike pair is coach vs couch.