Breath or Breathe? The Difference in 5 Minutes

Quick Overview Table

Basic Rule

• BREATH = The air or the thing (noun)
• BREATHE = The action (verb)

Pronunciation

🔊 BREATH: Ends with "th" sound (like in "death", "health", "wealth")
🔊 BREATHE: Ends with "the" sound (like in "seethe", "teethe", "wreathe")

Common Uses in Context

Medical Context

Daily Life Examples

Using BREATH (noun):

• Morning breath
• Bad breath
• A breath of fresh air
• Hold your breath
• Save your breath

Using BREATHE (verb):

• Breathe slowly
• Breathe through your nose
• Let me breathe
• Breathe in the fresh air
• Plants breathe too

Common Mistakes Fixed

❌ Wrong: I can't breath.
✅ Correct: I can't breathe. (Because it's an action)

❌ Wrong: Take a deep breathe.
✅ Correct: Take a deep breath. (Because it's the thing you take)

Easy Memory Tips

• BREATH (noun) - DEATH (noun)
• BREATHE (verb) - SEETHE (verb)

Practice Sentences

Fill in the blank with breath or breathe:

1. Take a deep _____ before diving.
2. Remember to _____ while exercising.
3. His _____ smells like coffee.
4. Fish _____ through their gills.
5. I'm out of _____.

Usage in Different Situations

Swimming Tips

• Take a breath (noun) before diving
• Learn to breathe (verb) properly
• Hold your breath (noun) underwater
• Breathe (verb) on both sides

Exercise & Sport

• Catch your breath (noun) between sets
• Breathe (verb) steadily while running
• Control your breath (noun)
• Remember to breathe (verb)

Quick Reference for Writers

Tip

Think: Can you DO it?

• If yes → BREATHE
• If no → BREATH