Inklingo

How to Say "to inhale" in Spanish

English → Spanish

aspirar

/as-pee-RAHR//as.piˈɾaɾ/

verbA2general
Use 'aspirar' when referring to the act of breathing in air, especially in contexts related to medical procedures, breathing exercises, or even drawing in a scent.
A child standing in a field of flowers, taking a deep breath of the fresh air.

Examples

Aspira profundamente por la nariz.

Breathe in deeply through your nose.

Me gusta aspirar el aroma del café por la mañana.

I like to inhale the aroma of coffee in the morning.

El médico me pidió que aspirara con fuerza.

The doctor asked me to inhale with force.

Breathing vs. Wanting

When you are just breathing in air, you use the word directly with the thing you are breathing: 'Aspiro el humo' (I inhale the smoke).

Don't confuse with 'espirar'

Mistake: “Yo espiro el perfume.”

Correction: Yo aspiro el perfume. 'Espirar' (with an E) means to breathe out or to expire/end.

inhalar

/ee-nah-LAR//inaˈlaɾ/

verbB1general
Choose 'inhalar' when the focus is on the physical act of breathing in air or a specific substance, commonly used in medical or everyday breathing contexts.
A child standing in a lush green meadow, eyes closed, taking a deep breath of fresh air.

Examples

El doctor me pidió inhalar profundamente durante el examen.

The doctor asked me to inhale deeply during the exam.

Es peligroso inhalar el humo de los incendios forestales.

It is dangerous to inhale smoke from forest fires.

Inhala el aroma del café recién hecho por la mañana.

Inhale the aroma of freshly made coffee in the morning.

The Silent 'H'

In Spanish, the 'h' is always silent. When saying 'inhalar', jump straight from the 'n' sound to the 'a' sound. It sounds like 'in-a-lar'.

Verb Patterns

This is a regular '-ar' verb. It follows the same pattern as 'hablar' or 'caminar' in all its forms.

The English 'H' Sound

Mistake: “Pronouncing the 'h' like in the English word 'inhale'.”

Correction: Treat the 'h' as if it's invisible. Say 'een-ah-LAR', not 'een-hay-LAR'.

inspirar

/een-spee-RAHR//inspiˈɾaɾ/

verbB2formal/medical
Use 'inspirar' primarily when describing the physiological action of drawing air into the lungs, often found in medical or technical descriptions of breathing.
A person standing in a lush green forest with their eyes closed, taking a deep breath of fresh air.

Examples

El paciente debe inspirar profundamente.

The patient must inhale deeply.

Inspira por la nariz y exhala por la boca.

Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.

Physical Action

Unlike the figurative meaning, the physical 'to inhale' is usually used by itself or followed by what is being breathed (like 'aire').

Respirar vs. Inspirar

Mistake: “Tengo que inspirar para vivir.”

Correction: Tengo que respirar para vivir.

Aspirar vs. Inhalar

Learners often confuse 'aspirar' and 'inhalar' because both mean 'to breathe in.' While 'inhalar' is more general, 'aspirar' can also specifically mean 'to suck in' or 'to aspire to,' so pay attention to context. 'Inspirar' is almost always about the physical act of breathing air into the lungs.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.