Distinguishing Between Breath & Breathe

Breath vs Breathe

Breath and breathe are two words that are often confused due to their pronunciation, but they should be understood differently. The primary difference between the two words is that breath is a noun, while breathe is a verb. Breath refers to the inhalation or exhalation of air, whereas breathe means to take air into the lungs and then let it out, or inhale and exhale.

Meaning of Breath

Breath is used to describe the air inhaled or exhaled during respiration. It can also refer to the air emitted or exhaled from the mouth, as in the sentence “good toothpaste arrests bad breath.” In Old English, the term breath was used to describe smell or scent. There are idioms that use the word breath such as “in the same breath,” “out of breath,” and “hold your breath.”

Meaning of Breathe

Breathe is used to describe the act of taking air into the lungs and then letting it out, or inhaling and exhaling. The word breathe is occasionally used with expressions like “his/her last” to describe dying, and it can also be used in the sense of “taking a rest.” Breathe can be used with prepositions such as “out,” “in,” and “for” to convey different meanings.

Key Takeaways

• Breath is a noun, while breathe is a verb.
• Breath refers to the inhalation or exhalation of air, whereas breathe means to take air into the lungs and then let it out, or inhale and exhale.
• Breathe can be used with expressions like “his/her last” to mean dying, and it can also be used to describe taking a rest.