respiración

/rres-pee-rah-see-OHN/

breathing

The primary meaning of respiración is 'breathing,' the natural process of inhaling and exhaling air.

respiración(Noun)

fA2

breathing

The natural process of inhaling and exhaling

respiration

Medical or biological term for the gas exchange process

📝 In Action

Después de correr, mi respiración estaba muy agitada.

After running, my breathing was very heavy.

La respiración lenta ayuda a calmar los nervios.

Slow breathing helps calm the nerves.

Word Connections

Synonyms

aliento (breath (exhaled air))

Common Collocations

contener la respiración – to hold one's breath
dificultad para respirar – difficulty breathing

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Noun Rule

All nouns ending in -ción are feminine in Spanish, so you must always use 'la' or 'una' with this word: 'la respiración'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing Noun and Verb

Mistake: "Usar 'respirar' cuando se necesita el nombre: 'Mi respirar es rápido.'"

Correction: Use the noun form: 'Mi respiración es rápida.' ('Respiración' is the *act*, 'respirar' is the *action*.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking about Health

Use 'la respiración' when describing the state or quality of someone's breathing, like 'su respiración es normal' (their breathing is normal).

A person sitting cross-legged in a calm, meditative pose, placing a hand on their abdomen to focus on controlled, deep breathing, illustrating a specific technique.

Respiración can also refer to a 'breathing technique,' a specific, controlled method of inhaling and exhaling, often used in meditation or exercise.

respiración(Noun)

fB1

breathing technique

A specific method of inhaling and exhaling

Also:

rescue breathing

Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

artificial respiration

Medical procedure to aid breathing

📝 In Action

El instructor enseñó una técnica de respiración para relajarse.

The instructor taught a breathing technique to relax.

El paramédico inició la respiración de salvamento.

The paramedic started the rescue breathing.

Word Connections

Synonyms

ventilación (ventilation (especially medical/mechanical))

Common Collocations

ejercicio de respiración – breathing exercise
respiración profunda – deep breathing

💡 Grammar Points

Combining with Adjectives

This meaning often appears with descriptive adjectives to specify the type: 'respiración abdominal' (belly breathing) or 'respiración controlada' (controlled breathing).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: respiración

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'respiración' in the context of physical exertion?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

respirar(to breathe) - verb

respiradero(vent/air hole) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'respiración' y 'aliento'?

'Respiración' refers to the whole process or act of breathing (inhaling and exhaling). 'Aliento' generally refers to the air that is exhaled, or the physical presence of breath (as in 'bad breath').

Since 'respirar' is a verb, why is 'respiración' feminine?

Spanish nouns that end in the suffix -ción (like 'canción,' 'nación,' 'situación') almost always refer to an action or result and are almost always feminine. It's a very reliable pattern to remember!