What is the Difference Between Breath and Breathe?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between "breath" and "breathe" lies in their grammatical functions: "breath" is a noun, while "breathe" is a verb.
- Breathe: As a verb, "breathe" means to draw air into the lungs and expel it again. It refers to the process of inhaling and exhaling.
- Breath: As a noun, "breath" refers to the air brought in and exhaled during the process of breathing. It can also be used to describe a full cycle of breathing or the act of breathing in general.
Both words are used in various idioms and expressions in English. For example:
- "My boss is breathing down my neck" means "My boss is putting me under too much scrutiny".
- "I can breathe easily now" means "I am relieved as a situation has been resolved".
- "He breathed new life into the team" means "He reinvigorated the team".
To remember the difference, keep in mind that "breathe" has an /ee/ sound and an 'e' at the end, while "breath" does not have an 'e' at the end.
Comparative Table: Breath vs Breathe
The difference between "breath" and "breathe" lies in their grammatical roles and pronunciation. Here is a table summarizing the differences:
Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|---|
Breath | Noun | The air inhaled and exhaled during breathing. | Pronounced with a short "e" sound and the "th" sound from "thing" at the end. |
Breathe | Verb | To inhale and exhale air. | Pronounced with a long "e" sound. |
Examples:
- Breathe: "She breathed in the fresh air." (verb)
- Breath: "He took a deep breath." (noun)
Remember that "breathe" is a verb, and "breath" is a noun, and their pronunciations differ slightly due to the extra "e" in "breath".
Read more:
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- Dyspnea vs Shortness of Breath
- Inspiration vs Expiration
- Breathing vs Cellular Respiration
- Ventilation vs Respiration
- Oxygen vs Air
- Respiration vs Combustion
- Vesicular vs Bronchial Breathing
- Aspiration vs Inspiration
- Hyperventilation vs Hypoventilation
- Apnea vs Dyspnea
- Halitosis vs Bad Breath
- Respiration vs Photosynthesis
- Oxygen vs Carbon Dioxide
- Respiration vs Cellular Respiration
- Internal vs External Respiration
- Asthma vs Bronchitis
- Gills vs Lungs