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"to breathe" in seven languages

Meaningto breathe

Spanish

respirar

/respiˈɾaɾ/

learned

French

respirer

/ʁɛspiʁe/

learned

Italian

respirare

/respiˈrare/

learned

Portuguese

respirar

/hespiˈɾah/

learned

Romanian

respira

/respiˈra/

learned

Răsufla, from spoken *RESUFFLĀRE 'to blow back', is the native synonym.

Catalan

respirar

/rəspiˈɾa/

learned

English

breathe

/bɹið/

native English · Old English brǣþ 'breath'

English → Italianto breatherespirareNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: respiration, respiratory, spirit, inspire.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

RESPĪRĀRE‘to breathe out, breathe again (SPĪRĀRE 'to breathe')’

All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.

The story

All six sisters breathe with the same book word from RESPĪRĀRE. SPĪRĀRE 'to breathe' also gave spirit — the breath of life — and inspire, 'to breathe into'.

English relatives: respiration, respiratory, spirit, inspire

Learn it

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In a sentence

  • esRespira hondo por la nariz.
  • frRespire profondément par le nez.
  • itRespira profondamente con il naso.
  • ptRespire fundo pelo nariz.
  • roRespiră adânc pe nas.
  • caRespira profundament pel nas.
  • enBreathe deeply through your nose.

More in Core verbs

All Core verbs words