Breath vs. Breathe
“Breath” is a noun, pronounced /breθ/; “breathe” is a verb, pronounced /briːð/. The final e changes both the grammatical role and the pronunciation, so this pair benefits from a combined morphology, sound, and sentence-role test.
Use “breath” for the noun and “breathe” for the verb. They are also pronounced differently: breath ends with /θ/, while breathe ends with /ð/ and has a longer vowel.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| noun: air taken in or expelled | breath | use the noun |
| verb: take air into and out of the lungs | breathe | use the verb |
Quick tests
Sentence-role test
Do you need a thing you can take/hold, or an action you can perform?
If yes: Use “breath” for the noun.
If no: Use “breathe” for the verb.
Caveat: The pronunciation also differs, but grammatical role is the quickest writing test.
Examples
Take a slow breath.
“Breath” is a noun.
Breathe slowly for a moment.
“Breathe” is a verb.
She held her breath because the room was hard to breathe in.
The sentence shows both roles together.
Take a deep breath.
Noun vs. verb, with a matching pronunciation contrast.
Breathe slowly through your nose.
Noun vs. verb, with a matching pronunciation contrast.
Usage notes
The distinction is based on meaning and/or grammatical role, not merely a house-style preference.
Further guidance
Morphology Cue
The final e is part of the verb spelling; related forms include breathed and breathing.
Noun Verb Boundary
Breath names the air or a single act of breathing; breathe names the action.
Pronunciation Boundary
Cambridge gives breath /breθ/ and breathe /briːð/, so both vowel length and final consonant voicing differ.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- BREATH definition (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Noun meaning and pronunciation of breath
- BREATHE definition (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Verb meaning and pronunciation of breathe