souffle
/sufl/masculine
In French, the word for breath can be expressed as souffle or haleine depending on the context.
Meaning: air expelled from the lungs (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| souffle | /sufl/ | masculine |
| haleine | /a.lɛn/ | feminine |
The term souffle is used to describe breath as a force or a vital function. It can also refer to a gust of wind or the act of blowing. If you wish to emphasize the specific act of inhaling, you may use inspiration, whereas expiration focuses on the act of exhaling.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two main forms depends on what aspect of breath you are discussing. Use souffle when referring to breath as a force or a vital function. Use haleine specifically when referring to the physical sensation of breathing or the odor of one's breath.
How do you pronounce it?
/sufl/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When you want to say that someone has 'bad breath', you must use mauvaise haleine rather than souffle.
Did you know?
- In a medical context, a heart murmur is called un souffle au cœur, using the word for 'breath' to describe an abnormal sound in the heart.
- The word haleine did not originally start with the letter h. The letter was added in the 16th century to make the word look more like the Latin word hālō meaning 'to blow'.
- In a culinary context, a chef might talk about a 'soufflé', which takes its name from the same root as souffle because the dish relies on 'blown' air to rise.
Examples in context
- Je perds le souffle.I get out of breath.This sentence is useful for describing the sensation of being out of breath using souffle.Tatoeba #8445944 by marioo, translation #274454 by CM
- Tom retint son souffle.Tom held his breath.This sentence is useful for describing the action of holding one's breath using souffle.Tatoeba #4963227 by franlexcois, translation #1025231 by CK
- Elle retint son souffle.She held her breath.Tatoeba #706380 by qdii, translation #315557 by CK
- Le yoga m'aide à contrôler ma respiration et à me relaxer.Yoga helps me control my breath and relax.
- Prenez une grande inspiration et soufflez lentement.Take a deep breath and exhale slowly.
- J'ai besoin de reprendre mon souffle après cette course intensive.I need to catch my breath after this intensive run.
- Après plusieurs heures enfermé, je suis sorti pour prendre une bouffée d'air frais.After being indoors for several hours, I went out to take a breath of fresh air.
- 63 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are walking in a cold winter forest.
- GabrielRegarde, on voit notre souffle dans l'air.Look, we can see our breath in the air.
- ManonC'est parce qu'il fait très froid aujourd'hui.It's because it is very cold today.
- GabrielOui, le spectacle est magnifique.Yes, the sight is beautiful.
- ManonC'est vrai, Gabriel.It's true, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breath” translations and entries souffle, haleine, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries haleine, souffle, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
