atmen
/ˈaːtmən/
To breathe in German is atmen.
The verb atmen refers to the physiological process of breathing.
Meaning: to draw air in and out (verb)
Which one should you use?
While atmen refers to the physiological process of breathing, schnaufen refers to heavy, labored or noisy breathing (panting).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb atmen is often used with the separable prefix ein- to specifically mean breathing in and with the separable prefix aus- to specifically mean breathing out.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈaːtmən/
Did you know?
- The phrase aufatmen means 'to breathe a sigh of relief'. It combines atmen with a prefix to describe the emotional release of tension.
- The noun for 'breath' is Atem, and it is used in the common idiom jemandem den Atem rauben, which means to take someone's breath away with beauty or shock.
- While atmen is the standard verb, the phrase Luft holen is frequently used in casual conversation to mean 'taking a breath' when one is out of wind.
Examples in context
- Atmen Sie tief ein.Breathe in deeply.This sentence is useful for practicing the verb atmen in the context of breathing in deeply.Tatoeba #894776 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1152159 by belgavox
- Atmen Sie ganz aus.Breathe all the way out.This sentence is useful for practicing the verb atmen in the context of breathing out completely.Tatoeba #894782 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10555388 by sundown
- Atmen Sie tief ein!Breathe deeply.Tatoeba #7695986 by brauchinet, translation #7538239 by CK
- Bitte atmen Sie tief ein und dann langsam aus.Please breathe in deeply and then breathe out slowly.
- 57 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Sarah are doing yoga together.
- JulianVergiss nicht, ruhig zu atmen.Don't forget to breathe calmly.
- SarahIch versuche es, aber es ist schwer.I'm trying, but it's hard.
- JulianKonzentriere dich einfach auf dein atmen.Just concentrate on your breathing.
- SarahDanke, Julian, das hilft mir.Thanks, Julian, that helps me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breathe” translations and entries atmen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
