French · Body & Health
"to breathe" in French: respirer
respirer
To breathe in French is respirer. Respire un peu means breathe a bit. On respire mieux dehors is we breathe better outside. La respiration is the noun — use the verb forms here.
Calming a friend
Respire. Tu n'es pas en retard.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce respirer
Say it
reh-spee-RAY
/ʁɛs.pi.ʁe/
Respirer: reh-spee-RAY. Respire: reh-SPEER. Soft s between vowels.
"to breathe" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| respirer | to breathe Infinitive. | Infinitive. |
| respire | breathe (imperative) / breathes Calm cue. | Calm cue. |
| respirer à fond | to take a deep breath Stress relief. | Stress relief. |
| difficile de respirer | hard to breathe Health context. | Health context. |
How to use respirer in real life
- 1Calming a friend
Respire. Tu n'es pas en retard.
Breathe. You're not late.
Imperative respire.
- 2Yoga class
On inspire… et on respire lentement.
We inhale… and we breathe slowly.
On respire.
- 3After climbing stairs
Attends, je respire deux secondes.
Wait, I'm catching my breath for two seconds.
Je respire.
Mistakes English speakers make with respirer
Incorrect: Je breathe fort.
Correct: Je respire fort.
Use respirer.
Incorrect: Ma respiration un peu — teach the verb.
Correct: Respire un peu.
La respiration is the noun; use respire for the verb.
Good to know
Respire is the classic calm-down line in films and real life. Doctors ask est-ce que tu respires bien ? Sports coaches say expire / inspire more than respirer alone, but respirer remains the base verb.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Before a job interview
ChatPal
Respire. Tu connais ton sujet.
Breathe. You know your topic.
You
J'essaie. Je respire trop vite là.
I'm trying. I'm breathing too fast right now.
ChatPal
Compte jusqu'à quatre, puis respire à fond.
Count to four, then take a deep breath.
You
Ça va mieux. Merci.
Better. Thanks.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to breathe" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to breathe" in French
How do you say to breathe in French?
Respirer.
How do you say breathe! ?
Respire !
What is respiration?
The noun breathing — different from the verb respirer.
How do you pronounce respirer?
reh-spee-RAY.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
