Breath in Different Languages
Discover 'Breath' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Breath is a fundamental aspect of life, connecting us to the world and to ourselves. It is a universal experience, yet its significance and cultural importance vary greatly across different languages and traditions. In many spiritual practices, breath is seen as a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms, a means of accessing higher consciousness and inner peace.
Historically, breath has played a crucial role in various cultural contexts. In ancient Greece, for instance, the word 'pneuma' referred to both breath and spirit, reflecting the deep connection between the two. Similarly, in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, 'prana' and 'chi' or 'qi' respectively, denote the vital energy or life force that is carried by the breath.
Given the rich cultural and spiritual significance of breath, it's not surprising that many people are interested in learning its translations in different languages. Here are just a few examples:
- Spanish: 'aliento'
- French: 'souffle'
- German: 'Atem'
- Mandarin: '呼吸' (hū xī)
- Japanese: 'いき' (iki)
Breath
Breath in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | asemhaal | ||
| The Afrikaans word "asemhaal" literally means "to pull breath". | |||
| Amharic | እስትንፋስ | ||
| "እስትንፋስ" translates as "breath," and also denotes a person's vital energy, spirit or life. | |||
| Hausa | numfashi | ||
| "Numfashi" is used to refer to the breath of any living thing, as well as to the breath of the wind. | |||
| Igbo | ume | ||
| 'Ume' can also refer to a type of yam, or the breath of life, especially when used in the context of 'ume ndu.' | |||
| Malagasy | fofonaina | ||
| "Fofonaina" has the same etymology as "rifo" (to blow), but with an additional suffix "-aina", which indicates an involuntary action, hence "breath". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mpweya | ||
| The word "mpweya" also means "spirit" or "life" in Nyanja. | |||
| Shona | mweya | ||
| The Shona word "mweya" also means "spirit" or "life force". | |||
| Somali | neef | ||
| The Somali word "neef" can also refer to the scent or smell of something. | |||
| Sesotho | phefumoloho | ||
| Phefumoloho can also refer to air, life, breeze, spirit, and soul. | |||
| Swahili | pumzi | ||
| In some regions, "pumzi" also refers to a light breeze or a moment of respite. | |||
| Xhosa | umphefumlo | ||
| The word umphefumlo in Xhosa is derived from the root word phefumla, which means 'to breathe' or 'to be alive'. | |||
| Yoruba | ẹmi | ||
| In Yoruba, ẹmi can also be used to refer to a spirit or a person's soul or essence. | |||
| Zulu | umoya | ||
| The word 'umoya' not only means 'breath' in Zulu, but also refers to the 'mind' or 'spirit' and is connected to the concept of breath as the essence of life. | |||
| Bambara | ninakili | ||
| Ewe | gbɔgbɔ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umwuka | ||
| Lingala | kopema | ||
| Luganda | okussa | ||
| Sepedi | mohemo | ||
| Twi (Akan) | home | ||
Breath in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | نفس | ||
| Arabic "نفس" also means "self", and it's also used to refer to the Holy Spirit or the soul in Abrahamic religions. | |||
| Hebrew | נְשִׁימָה | ||
| נְשִׁימָה (neshimah) also means "soul" or "life" and is rooted in the word "נשם" (nasham), meaning "to breathe". | |||
| Pashto | ساه | ||
| The Pashto word "ساه" (breath) also has alternate meanings such as "aroma", "fragrance", and "scent". | |||
| Arabic | نفس | ||
| Arabic "نفس" also means "self", and it's also used to refer to the Holy Spirit or the soul in Abrahamic religions. | |||
Breath in Western European Languages
| Albanian | frymë | ||
| The word "frymë" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European word "*swerm-os", meaning "to breathe", and is cognate with the Greek word "ψύχος" (psukhos), meaning "cold" or "breath", and the Latin word "spiritus", meaning "spirit" or "breath". | |||
| Basque | arnasa | ||
| Arnasa, which in Basque means breath, is also related to the concept of soul, as in many other languages. | |||
| Catalan | respiració | ||
| The Catalan word "respiració" shares the Latin root *spirare* with the English word "spirit" and means both "breath" and "respiration". | |||
| Croatian | dah | ||
| The word "dah" in Croatian also means "a moment", "a time". | |||
| Danish | åndedrag | ||
| The word "åndedrag" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*andathragz," meaning both "breath" and "spirit." | |||
| Dutch | adem | ||
| The etymology of "adem" is related to the Proto-Germanic word "afma", meaning "spirit" or "inspiration", which is also found in English "affable" (Latin origin), meaning "courteous, agreeable". In the Indonesian language, "adem" also means "cool". | |||
| English | breath | ||
| The word "breath" comes from the Old English word "brēþan," meaning "to breathe," and is related to the German word "braten," meaning "to roast." | |||
| French | souffle | ||
| In French, the word "souffle" also means a "puff" or "gust" of wind, as well as a "hint" or "suggestion". | |||
| Frisian | azem | ||
| The Frisian word "azem" derives from the same root as the Latin "anima" (meaning "soul") and the Greek "anemos" (meaning "wind"). | |||
| Galician | respiración | ||
| "Respiración" in Galician can also imply "respiration" or "inspiration." | |||
| German | atem | ||
| The word "Atem" also translates to "steam" and is linked to the Old Norse word "and | |||
| Icelandic | anda | ||
| The word "anda" in Icelandic can also mean "wave" or "spirit". | |||
| Irish | anáil | ||
| The word "anáil" in Irish can also refer to the soul or spirit, as well as the act of breathing. | |||
| Italian | respiro | ||
| "Respiro" derives from the Latin verb "respirare" which can also mean "to recover", "to revive" or "to regain consciousness". | |||
| Luxembourgish | ootmen | ||
| In some regions of Luxembourg, "ootmen" can also refer to a light breeze or gentle wind. | |||
| Maltese | nifs | ||
| The word "nifs" also refers to the "soul" and is related to the word "spirit" in other languages. | |||
| Norwegian | pust | ||
| The Norwegian word for breath, "pust", also means a breath of air or wind | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | respiração | ||
| The Portuguese word "respiração" comes from the Latin word "respiratio", which means "to breathe" or "to take breath". In Portuguese, it can also refer to the act of breathing or to the air that is breathed in and out. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | anail | ||
| The Gaelic word "anail" also means "soul" and is cognate with the Irish "anál" and Welsh "anael". | |||
| Spanish | respiración | ||
| In Spanish, the word 'respiración' can also refer to the process of breathing or the exchange of gases between the lungs and the blood. | |||
| Swedish | andetag | ||
| The word "andetag" is derived from the Old Norse word "andatagi", which means "inhalation". | |||
| Welsh | anadl | ||
| The Welsh word 'anadl' derives etymologically from the Proto-Celtic '*anatl-', meaning 'a breath'. | |||
Breath in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | дыханне | ||
| In Belarusian, "дыханне" also refers to a breeze or a spirit, while in the Old Belarusian, it meant "soul". | |||
| Bosnian | dah | ||
| Bosnian "dah" derives from Proto-Indo-European root *dʰeh₁- 'to blow, breath'. | |||
| Bulgarian | дъх | ||
| The word "дъх" also means "spirit" or "soul" in Bulgarian, reflecting the ancient belief that breath is the essence of life. | |||
| Czech | dech | ||
| The word "dech" has the same etymological root as the word "dýchat" which means "to breathe". | |||
| Estonian | hingetõmme | ||
| The word "hingetõmme" can also refer to a pause or rest in a work or activity, a short respite. | |||
| Finnish | hengitys | ||
| The Finnish word "hengitys" also means "spirit" or "life force". | |||
| Hungarian | lehelet | ||
| Besides its meaning of "breath," "lehelet" also signifies "whisper," "sigh," or "exhalation." | |||
| Latvian | elpa | ||
| The Latvian word "elpa" derives from Proto-Indo-European "*help-", meaning "to help, aid, assist". | |||
| Lithuanian | kvėpavimas | ||
| The word "kvėpavimas" can also mean "spirit" or "life force" in Lithuanian. | |||
| Macedonian | здив | ||
| "Здив" also means "sigh" in Macedonian. | |||
| Polish | oddech | ||
| In Polish, the word "oddech" doesn't only mean "breath" but also "rest" or "moment of relaxation". | |||
| Romanian | suflare | ||
| Romanian word "suflare" comes from Latin "exsuflare", meaning both "blow out" and "breathe out". | |||
| Russian | дыхание | ||
| "Дыхание" means "breath" in Russian. It also refers to inspiration or relief. | |||
| Serbian | дах | ||
| The word "дах" in Serbian also means "a moment" or "a pause". | |||
| Slovak | dych | ||
| The word "dych" in Slovak can also refer to a gust of wind, a scent, or a moment. | |||
| Slovenian | sapo | ||
| "Sapo" also relates to the "sapa" in Latin and "sha" in Sanskrit, which both mean to breathe or blow. | |||
| Ukrainian | дихання | ||
| The Ukrainian word "дихання" (breath) is derived from the Proto-Slavic root *dyx-, meaning "to blow". | |||
Breath in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | শ্বাস | ||
| "শ্বাস" can also mean life, or a span of time, or a sigh of relief. | |||
| Gujarati | શ્વાસ | ||
| The Gujarati word "श्वास" (breath) derives from the Sanskrit word "श्वास" and originally meant "the act of breathing" or "the air one breathes." | |||
| Hindi | सांस | ||
| "Saans" (सांस) is derived from the Sanskrit word "swasa" (श्वास), meaning "vital breath", and also has the alternate meaning of "sound". | |||
| Kannada | ಉಸಿರು | ||
| The word "ಉಸಿರು" can also refer to the life force or the soul in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | ശ്വാസം | ||
| The word "श्वासं" in Malayalam comes from the Sanskrit word "श्वसन" meaning "respiration" and is also used to refer to the "soul" or "spirit". | |||
| Marathi | श्वास | ||
| The word "श्वास" in Marathi originally meant "life" but now primarily means "breath". | |||
| Nepali | सास | ||
| The word “सास” can also mean “mother-in-law”. | |||
| Punjabi | ਸਾਹ | ||
| The word 'ਸਾਹ' ('breath') in Punjabi can also mean 'courage' or 'vitality', deriving from the Sanskrit word 'sahas' meaning 'courage'. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | හුස්ම | ||
| Sinhalese word "husma" shares its origin with Sanskrit "svasa" and "anila" (air, wind), and "pranaya" (life, love), signifying the breath's vital role in life. | |||
| Tamil | மூச்சு | ||
| Tamil "மூச்சு" (breath) shares its root with the word "மூக்கு" (nose), indicating the connection between breathing and the nasal passages. | |||
| Telugu | ఊపిరి | ||
| "ఊపిరి" (breath) is also used to refer to life or existence, as in the phrase "ఊపిరాడని" (unable to breathe), meaning "without life." | |||
| Urdu | سانس | ||
| The word "سانس" (breath) in Urdu also means "a brief moment" or "a gasp". | |||
Breath in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 呼吸 | ||
| The word 呼吸 (xīhū) literally means 'air-pull' and can also refer to the space between two breaths. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 呼吸 | ||
| 呼吸 literally means "to inhale and exhale", but has the alternate meaning of "life" or "soul". | |||
| Japanese | 呼吸 | ||
| "呼吸" (breath) also refers to the process of breathing or inhalation and exhalation. | |||
| Korean | 숨 | ||
| In addition to "breath," "숨" has meanings like "life," "soul," "spirit," or a "comma in music." | |||
| Mongolian | амьсгал | ||
| In Mongolian, the word "амьсгал" can also refer to the space between two objects, such as the distance between a person's mouth and a microphone. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အသက်ရှူခြင်း | ||
| The word "အသက်" can also mean "life" or "energy" in Myanmar (Burmese). | |||
Breath in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | nafas | ||
| Nafas, a Sanskrit loanword, also refers to a person's life, fate or spirit, or a unit of time equal to ten moments. | |||
| Javanese | ambegan | ||
| The word "ambegan" in Javanese has alternative meanings including "wind" and "to blow". | |||
| Khmer | ដង្ហើម | ||
| The Khmer word "ដង្ហើម" has additional meanings beyond "breath", including "spirit" and "life force." | |||
| Lao | ລົມຫາຍໃຈ | ||
| Malay | nafas | ||
| In Arabic, 'nafas' also means 'a single utterance' | |||
| Thai | ลมหายใจ | ||
| The word "ลมหายใจ" can also mean "life" or "soul" in Thai. | |||
| Vietnamese | hơi thở | ||
| Hơi thở can also mean "a gentle breeze" or "a breath of air". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | hininga | ||
Breath in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | nəfəs | ||
| The word "nəfəs" in Azerbaijani can also refer to a "sigh" or "lamentation". | |||
| Kazakh | тыныс | ||
| "Тыныс" in Kazakh also refers to the period when an animal holds its breath or stops breathing, such as while diving. | |||
| Kyrgyz | дем | ||
| 'Дем' (dem) also refers to 'air' or 'atmosphere' in Kyrgyz. | |||
| Tajik | нафас | ||
| The word "нафас" in Tajik can also mean "the length of time a person can hold their breath" or "a person's life span". | |||
| Turkmen | dem | ||
| Uzbek | nafas | ||
| Nafas in Uzbek also refers to the opening and closing of the glottis in speech and chanting. | |||
| Uyghur | نەپەس | ||
Breath in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hanu | ||
| The Hawaiian word "hanu" also means "life force" or "soul". | |||
| Maori | manawa | ||
| In old New Zealand Maori, manawa also referred to the soul, mind, spirit, or the inner self of someone. | |||
| Samoan | manava | ||
| The Samoan word "manava" not only means "breath," but also signifies life, spirit, and one's inner being. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | hininga | ||
| 'Hininga' can also mean 'life, soul'. | |||
Breath in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | samana | ||
| Guarani | pytu | ||
Breath in International Languages
| Esperanto | spiro | ||
| The Esperanto word "spiro" is derived from the Latin "spiro" meaning "to breathe" or "to exhale". | |||
| Latin | spiritum | ||
| The Latin word "spiritum" also means "soul", "life", or "essence". | |||
Breath in Others Languages
| Greek | αναπνοή | ||
| The word 'αναπνοή' is derived from the Ancient Greek verb 'αναπνέω', which means 'to breathe', and the noun 'πνοή', which means 'breath', 'wind' or 'life' | |||
| Hmong | pa | ||
| In Hmong, the word "pa" not only refers to breath but also to the ancestral spirit and its life force. | |||
| Kurdish | bîn | ||
| The Kurdish word "bîn" also signifies "face" or "countenance". | |||
| Turkish | nefes | ||
| "Nefes" comes from the Persian word "nafas" which means "breath of life" or "soul". | |||
| Xhosa | umphefumlo | ||
| The word umphefumlo in Xhosa is derived from the root word phefumla, which means 'to breathe' or 'to be alive'. | |||
| Yiddish | אָטעם | ||
| The Yiddish term אָטעם has ancient Semitic roots, suggesting a sacred or vital force beyond the physical act of respiration. | |||
| Zulu | umoya | ||
| The word 'umoya' not only means 'breath' in Zulu, but also refers to the 'mind' or 'spirit' and is connected to the concept of breath as the essence of life. | |||
| Assamese | উশাহ | ||
| Aymara | samana | ||
| Bhojpuri | सांस | ||
| Dhivehi | ނޭވާ | ||
| Dogri | दम | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | hininga | ||
| Guarani | pytu | ||
| Ilocano | anges | ||
| Krio | briz we yu de blo | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | هەناسە | ||
| Maithili | सांस | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯅꯤꯡꯁꯥ ꯁ꯭ꯋꯔ ꯍꯣꯟꯕ | ||
| Mizo | thaw | ||
| Oromo | hafuura | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ନିଶ୍ୱାସ | ||
| Quechua | samay | ||
| Sanskrit | श्वशन | ||
| Tatar | сулыш | ||
| Tigrinya | ተንፈሰ | ||
| Tsonga | hefemula | ||