дыша́ть
dyšátʹimperfective
To breathe in Russian is дыша́ть (dyšátʹ).
The verb дыша́ть is used to describe the act of drawing air in and out.
Meaning: to draw air in and out (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
While дыша́ть is the imperfective form, the perfective form подыша́ть is used to indicate breathing for a short duration or a single instance of breathing. If you wish to refer to the noun for 'breath' or 'the act of breathing', use дыха́ние.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is dyšátʹ.
Did you know?
- The word дыша́ть shares a deep root with the word дух, which means both 'spirit' and 'breath'. This reflects an ancient belief that the breath is the essence of the soul.
- In Russian, you do not just 'breathe' air, but you 'breathe' an atmosphere or a feeling. For example, one can дыша́ть 'spring' or 'freedom' when the environment feels saturated with those things.
- Russian has a specific expression дышать в затылок, which literally means 'to breathe into the back of the neck'. It is used to describe someone who is closely pursuing or pressuring another person.
Examples in context
- Медитация поможет вам расслабиться и глубоко дышать.Meditation will help you relax and breathe deeply.
- После тренировки я всегда тяжело дышу.After the workout, I always breathe heavily.
- Когда нервничаю, я часто глубоко дышу, чтобы успокоиться.When I'm nervous, I often take deep breaths to calm down.
- Трудно дыша́ть в этой комнате.Trudno dyshat' v etoy komnate.It is hard to breathe in this room.
- Она начала́ глубже дыша́ть.Ona nachala glubzhe dyshat'.She began to breathe more deeply.
Example conversation
Dmitry and Anastasia are practicing yoga together.
- Дмитрий DmitryАнастасия, ты забываешь дыша́ть во время упражнения.Anastasiya, ty zabyvaesh' dyshat' vo vremya uprazhneniya.Anastasia, you are forgetting to breathe during the exercise.
- Анастасия AnastasiaОй, я просто очень сосредоточилась!Oy, ya prosto ochen' sosredotochilas'!Oh, I was just very focused!
- Дмитрий DmitryРасслабься и просто продолжай дыша́ть.Rasslab'sya i prosto prodolzhay dyshat'.Relax and just keep breathing.
- Анастасия AnastasiaХорошо, Дмитрий, я исправляюсь.Khorosho, Dmitriy, ya ispravlyayus'.Okay, Dmitry, I am fixing it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breathe” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
