respira
“respira” means “breathes” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
breathes, breathe!
Also: is breathing
📝 In Action
El bebé respira muy tranquilamente mientras duerme.
A1The baby breathes very calmly while sleeping.
¡Respira hondo! Todo va a estar bien.
A1Breathe deeply! Everything is going to be okay.
Si usted no respira bien, debe ver a un médico.
A2If you (formal) don't breathe well, you should see a doctor.
takes a breather, calms down
Also: pauses
📝 In Action
El jefe respira antes de tomar una decisión importante.
B1The boss pauses (takes a moment) before making an important decision.
Después de la discusión, solo respira y deja que el problema se calme.
B2After the argument, just take a break and let the problem cool down.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: respira
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best translates '¡Respira, por favor, antes de responder!'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin verb *respirare*, which means 'to breathe back' or 'to exhale.' The prefix 're-' emphasizes the action of drawing back the breath.
First recorded: Old Spanish (around 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'respira' means 'he/she breathes' or 'breathe!'?
You can usually tell by the context and punctuation. If it's a command, it often starts the sentence, may use an exclamation mark (¡Respira!), and is directed at the person you are speaking to (tú). If it's a statement, it usually follows a subject like 'él' or 'ella'.
Is 'respirar' a stem-changing verb?
No, 'respirar' is a regular -AR verb. Its stem (respir-) never changes, which makes it easier to conjugate than many other common verbs.