breath and breathe - the difference

Free grammar tips, lessons and tests

Recommended purchases

This site: Grammar Monster on line Daily tips with Grammar Monster's gadget Daily tips with Grammar Monster on Twitter  The best grammar reference books Grammar Monster off line The only grammar checker we'll endorse
Common grammar errors
Easily confused words
Grammar terms & definitions
Grammar tests
Grammar lessons
Search this site


 Home

Search
 

Glossary
of Terms

Common
Errors

FAQs

Grammar
Chat

Download

Grammar
Checker

BREATH / BREATHE

 

Breath (rhymes with death) denotes the air inhaled or exhaled during breathing. To breathe (rhymes with seethe) mean to inhale and expel air from the lungs.
 

Writers occasionally confuse the words 'breath' and 'breathe'.

Breath

The word 'breath' is a noun.  It denotes the air that is either inhaled or exhaled during breathing.  Colloquially, it can also mean a short pause (e.g., Take a breath and try again.) 'Breath' rhymes with 'death'.

Examples:

Paul pinched his nose, took a breath and jumped off the boat.

He would fight until his last breath.

Breathe

The word 'breathe' is a verb.  It rhymes with 'seethe'. It has the following closely related meanings:
 
To inhale and expel air from the lungs.

  Is she breathing?
(Note: Breathe drops the 'e' when 'ing' is added.)

 Virtually all fish breathe through gills.
(Gills are a fish's lungs.)
To allow gas or moisture to pass through.

  The new synthetic material can breath to prevent moisture building up against the skin.
To impart (often used figuratively).

  He breathed new life into the project.
  He breathed a sigh of relief.
Select the correct version:

 
BREEEEATHE

Native English speakers only tend to confuse 'breath' and 'breathe' in writing. Therefore, if you use the 'e' on the end of 'breathe' to remind you that the 'ea' is pronounced 'EE' (i.e., breathe rhymes with seethe), then you will eliminate this error.
Associated lessons:
 
What are nouns?
What are verbs?
List of easily confused words
 
 

Grammar Monster © | Copyright Registration Number: 226604 | All rights reserved