respiro
“respiro” means “break” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
break, respite
Also: breathing space, lull
📝 In Action
Necesito un respiro de la rutina diaria.
B1I need a break from the daily routine.
La tormenta nos dio un respiro del calor sofocante.
B2The storm gave us a respite from the suffocating heat.
Tómate un respiro, has estado trabajando por horas.
A2Take a break, you've been working for hours.
I breathe
Also: I take a breath
📝 In Action
Yo respiro profundamente para calmar mis nervios.
A1I breathe deeply to calm my nerves.
Cuando corro, respiro por la nariz y la boca.
A2When I run, I breathe through my nose and mouth.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: respiro
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'respiro' as a noun (meaning a break)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin verb *respirare*, which literally means 'to breathe again' or 'to take a breath'. This origin explains both the modern verb meaning ('I breathe') and the derived noun meaning ('a moment of relief or a break').
First recorded: 13th century (in related forms)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'respiro' means 'I breathe' or 'a break'?
Look at the words around it! If it's used with 'yo' (I) and acts as the main action, it means 'I breathe' (e.g., 'Yo respiro'). If it follows 'un' or 'el' and is something you 'take' or 'need', it's the noun 'a break' (e.g., 'Tomo un respiro').