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E EnglishDart
A2

Breath vs Breathe

Breath (no E, /breθ/) is the noun — 'take a deep breath'. Breathe (with E, /briːð/) is the verb — 'just breathe'.

The one-line answer

Breath (no E, /breθ/) is the noun — 'take a deep breath'. Breathe (with E, /briːð/) is the verb — 'just breathe'.

breath

noun

the air that goes in and out of your lungs

  • Take a deep breath before you speak.
  • I was out of breath after the stairs.
  • The cold air turned my breath into fog.

breathe

verb

to take air in and out (breathe – breathed – breathed)

  • Relax and breathe slowly.
  • It's hard to breathe at high altitude.
  • She breathed in the fresh morning air.

Memory trick

The verb needs the extra E because it's an action — like 'write' or 'bathe'. The noun breath rhymes with 'death', the verb breathe rhymes with 'seethe'.

Breath vs Breathe: Test yourself

Question 1 of 2

Hold your ___ for ten seconds.