Breath vs. Breathe: What's the Difference?
Distinguish breath, the noun, from breathe, the verb, using pronunciation, examples, common phrases, a quiz, and FAQs.
Breath is a noun for the air taken into or expelled from the lungs. Breathe is the verb for taking that air in and out. Breath ends with an unvoiced th sound; breathe ends with a voiced th sound and rhymes with seethe.
Working with a longer passage? Use our free AI text summarizer to turn it into a focused overview, then return here to check the wording.
A wellness instruction says, “Breath slowly for ten seconds.” The sentence needs an action, so the final e matters: breathe slowly.
Breath vs. Breathe at a glance
| Word | Typical role | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| breath | Noun | air inhaled or exhaled; one cycle of breathing | Take a slow breath before you begin. |
| breathe | Verb | to inhale and exhale air | Breathe normally while the device records the reading. |
How to use breath
Use breath after articles and possessives: a breath, the breath, your breath. It appears in expressions such as catch your breath, hold your breath, out of breath, and a breath of fresh air.
Take a slow breath before you begin.
How to use breathe
Use breathe when the sentence needs the action. Its forms include breathes, breathed, and breathing. It can also mean allow air to circulate, as when fabric breathes, or pause and relax.
Breathe normally while the device records the reading.
Rules that make the choice easier
Use breath for the thing
If air, inhalation, or a single respiration names the thing, choose the noun breath.
Use breathe for the action
If inhale or exhale can replace the word, use breathe.
Listen for the final sound
Breath ends like path; breathe ends with the voiced sound in bathe and has a longer vowel.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Incorrect: Breath deeply. Correct: Breathe deeply.
- Incorrect: Take a deep breathe. Correct: Take a deep breath.
- Do not write breathes when you need the plural noun breaths.
Quick practice
1. Take one more deep ___.
Answer: breath
2. Try to ___ slowly.
Answer: breathe
3. The patient ___ without assistance.
Answer: breathes
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between breath and breathe?
Breath is a noun; breathe is a verb.
How are breath and breathe pronounced?
Breath has a short vowel and unvoiced th; breathe has a long vowel and voiced th.
Is it take a breath or take a breathe?
Take a breath is correct because the phrase needs a noun.
What is the plural of breath?
The plural noun is breaths.