How to Pronounce breath vs breathe
Key Pronunciation Contrast
‘Breath’ is a noun with short ⁄ɛ⁄ and voiceless ⁄θ⁄ (⁄brɛθ⁄), whereas ‘breathe’ is a verb with long ⁄iː⁄ and voiced ⁄ð⁄ (⁄briːð⁄).
Contrast: Vowel & consonant: ⁄ɛ⁄ + ⁄θ⁄ vs ⁄iː⁄ + ⁄ð⁄
breathe
⁄briːð⁄
BREATHE
To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.
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80 total video examplesFrequently Asked Questions: breath vs breathe
What is the difference in pronunciation between "breath" and "breathe"?
‘Breath’ is a noun with short ⁄ɛ⁄ and voiceless ⁄θ⁄ (⁄brɛθ⁄), whereas ‘breathe’ is a verb with long ⁄iː⁄ and voiced ⁄ð⁄ (⁄briːð⁄).
Where does the syllable stress fall in "breath" vs "breathe"?
"breath" has 1 syllable(s) (breath) with stress on "BREATH". "breathe" has 1 syllable(s) (breathe) with stress on "BREATHE".
Why do English learners often confuse "breath" and "breathe"?
Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Vowel & consonant: ⁄ɛ⁄ + ⁄θ⁄ vs ⁄iː⁄ + ⁄ð⁄. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.
What are example sentences for "breath" and "breathe"?
Example for "breath": "I could hear the breath of the runner behind me." Example for "breathe": "breathe and that maybe should not happen at work right you need to be focused but that's not ignoring it"