respirar
“respirar” means “to breathe” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to breathe
Also: to take a breath
📝 In Action
Necesito salir; no puedo respirar bien en esta habitación.
A1I need to go outside; I can't breathe well in this room.
El doctor le dijo que respire profundamente.
A2The doctor told him to breathe deeply.
El bebé respira tranquilamente mientras duerme.
A1The baby is breathing calmly while sleeping.
to take a break, to get a breather
Also: to have a moment of peace
📝 In Action
Después de tres horas de trabajo, por fin podemos respirar un poco.
B1After three hours of work, we can finally take a break for a bit.
La crisis ha sido terrible, pero ahora la empresa empieza a respirar.
B2The crisis has been terrible, but now the company is starting to get a breather (recover).
Necesito respirar antes de tomar una decisión tan importante.
B1I need to pause (and think) before making such an important decision.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "respirar" in Spanish:
to breathe→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: respirar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'respirar' in its figurative meaning ('to take a break/recover')?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin verb *respirare*, which is formed by combining the prefix *re-* (meaning 'again' or 'back') and *spirare* (meaning 'to breathe' or 'to blow'). Essentially, it means 'to breathe again' or 'to draw breath.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'respirar' reflexive (like 'respirarse')?
No, 'respirar' is almost always used as a regular, non-reflexive verb. You simply say 'Yo respiro' (I breathe). You do not need the extra 'me' or 'se' unless you are talking about something that is breathable, but even then, it's rare.
How do I say 'to take a deep breath'?
The most common way is to use an adverb: 'respirar profundamente' (to breathe profoundly/deeply), or the common phrase 'respirar hondo' (to breathe deeply).