Spanish · Body & Health
"to breathe" in Spanish: respirar
respirar
To breathe in Spanish is respirar. Coaches say Respira profundo. In worry, people say No puedo respirar bien.
Calming a friend
Respira despacio. Cuenta hasta cuatro.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce respirar
Say it
rehs-pee-RAHR
/res.pi.ˈɾaɾ/
rehs-pee-RAHR. Stress RAHR.
"to breathe" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| respirar | to breathe Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| respira | breathe / he-she breathes Tú command or él/ella present. | Tú command or él/ella present. |
| respira profundo | breathe deeply Calming cue. | Calming cue. |
| no puedo respirar | I can't breathe Urgent symptom talk. | Urgent symptom talk. |
How to use respirar in real life
- 1Calming a friend
Respira despacio. Cuenta hasta cuatro.
Breathe slowly. Count to four.
Respira as tú command.
- 2Yoga class
Inhalo y exhalo. Voy a respirar más lento.
I inhale and exhale. I'm going to breathe more slowly.
Respirar as infinitive goal.
- 3Clinic triage
No puedo respirar bien al subir.
I can't breathe well when I go up.
Respirar in a symptom report.
Mistakes English speakers make with respirar
Incorrect: Yo respira rápido.
Correct: Yo respiro rápido. / Respiro rápido.
First person is respiro, not respira.
Incorrect: Necesito breathe.
Correct: Necesito respirar.
Use respirar, not English breathe.
Good to know
Respira is a short calm cue with friends. For real trouble breathing, say No puedo respirar and seek help fast.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Helping someone who feels panicked
ChatPal
Respira conmigo. Uno, dos, tres, cuatro.
Breathe with me. One, two, three, four.
You
Intento respirar más despacio.
I'm trying to breathe more slowly.
ChatPal
Bien. Otra vez, sin prisa.
Good. Again, no rush.
You
Ya un poco mejor.
A little better already.
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 Spanish
How do you say breathe!?
Respira. Formal: Respire.
I can't breathe?
No puedo respirar.
How do you pronounce respirar?
rehs-pee-RAHR.
Tú or usted command?
Respira (tú); Respire (usted).
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
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