Breath vs Breathe: Which One Do You Need?
Breath is the noun. Breathe is the verb.
Take a deep breath. Try to breathe slowly.
The test that settles it
The silent e marks the verb, and it changes the sound: breath rhymes with death, breathe with seethe.
“out of ___” → a thing you can run out of, so the noun breath.
“___ deeply” → an instruction to act, so the verb breathe.
Breath: the noun
The air taken in, or a single act of taking it. Countable: a breath, three breaths.
She took a deep breath.
He was out of breath.
Not a breath of wind.
Can you put a in front? Then breath.
Breathe: the verb
To take air in and let it out. It conjugates normally: breathes, breathed, breathing.
Breathe through your nose.
The patient is breathing unaided.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
Swap in inhale. If it works, breathe.
Side by side
| Breath | Breathe |
|---|---|
| Noun | Verb |
| Rhymes with death | Rhymes with seethe |
| Countable: three breaths | Takes endings: breathing |
| A deep breath | To breathe deeply |
Where people get it wrong
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Take a deep breathe. | Take a deep breath. | A thing, so the noun. |
| I could not breath. | I could not breathe. | An action, so the verb. |
| breathtaking / breathetaking | breathtaking | Built on the noun. |
| Just breath. | Just breathe. | An instruction. |
Practice — choose the right word, then check yourself.
- Hold your ___ for five seconds.
- Remember to ___ out slowly.
- The view was ___taking.
- He was struggling to ___.
- She let out a long ___.
Show the answers
1. breath 2. breathe 3. breath 4. breathe 5. breath
Frequently asked
Are there other pairs like this?
Yes: bath / bathe, cloth / clothe, teeth / teethe. In each, the silent e makes the verb and softens the th.
Is breathes or breaths the plural?
Breaths is the plural noun. Breathes is the verb with a third-person s.
More words people confuse
