Breath vs. Breathe: The Noun and the Verb

The Rule

• Breath (noun) = the air you inhale or exhale; rhymes with “death”
• Breathe (verb) = the act of inhaling and exhaling; rhymes with “seethe”

Using Breath (Noun)

“Breath” is the thing—the air itself:

• “Take a deep breath.” ✓
• “I could see my breath in the cold air.” ✓
• “She was out of breath after running.” ✓
• “His breath smelled like coffee.” ✓
• “Don’t waste your breath.” ✓

Using Breathe (Verb)

“Breathe” is the action—what you do:

• “Just breathe slowly.” ✓
• “I can barely breathe in this heat.” ✓
• “Fish cannot breathe out of water.” ✓
• “Let the wine breathe before serving.” ✓
• “Don’t breathe a word of this.” ✓

Pronunciation Guide

• Breath = “breth” (short e, like “bed”)
• Breathe = “breeth” (long e, like “teeth”)

Memory Trick

• Breathe has an E at the end because verbs need Energy to perform actions
• Breath is shorter because nouns just sit there

Common Phrases

• “A breath of fresh air” (noun)
• “Breathe easy” (verb)
• “Catch your breath” (noun)
• “Room to breathe” (verb)