exhalar
“exhalar” means “to exhale” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to exhale
Also: to breathe out
📝 In Action
Inhala por la nariz y exhala por la boca.
A2Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.
El médico me pidió que exhalara lentamente.
B1The doctor asked me to breathe out slowly.
Al exhalar, trata de relajar todos tus músculos.
B2As you exhale, try to relax all your muscles.
to give off
Also: to emit, to utter
📝 In Action
La flor exhalaba un aroma delicioso.
B1The flower gave off a delicious scent.
Ella exhaló un suspiro de alivio cuando vio que estaba a salvo.
B1She let out a sigh of relief when she saw she was safe.
El pantano exhalaba gases tóxicos.
C1The marsh was emitting toxic gases.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: exhalar
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the most common use of 'exhalar'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'exhalare', where 'ex-' means 'out' and 'halare' means 'to breathe'.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 'h' in exhalar silent?
Yes, in Spanish, the letter 'h' is almost always silent, even when it's in the middle of a word like exhalar.
Can I use 'exhalar' for bad smells?
Yes, you can use it for any smell, though 'exhalar' often sounds slightly more formal or literary than just saying something 'huele' (smells).
What's the difference between 'exhalar' and 'espirar'?
'Exhalar' is more common in daily life. 'Espirar' is a technical medical term (be careful not to confuse it with 'expirar', which means to expire or end).