exhalar
/eɡsaˈlaɾ/
The Spanish word for 'exhale' is exhalar.
exhalar is used to describe the action of pushing air out of the lungs after breathing in.
Which one should you use?
exhalar is the direct antonym of inhalar (to inhale). While the verb expirar can also be used to mean 'to exhale', it is more commonly used to mean 'to die' or 'to expire' in a legal or temporal sense.
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular preterite form of exhalar is exhaló, meaning 'he/she exhaled'.
How do you pronounce it?
/eɡsaˈlaɾ/
Did you know?
- Because expirar means both to exhale and to die, some older Spanish literary texts use the phrase 'exhaling the spirit' as a euphemism for death.
- While exhalar is the most precise term for breathing, the word echar (to throw or cast) is often used in colloquial-style phrases to describe releasing air or breath.
- In poetic or romantic Spanish, exhalar is often used to describe the act of emitting a sigh or a fragrance, rather than just a biological function.
Examples in context
- Exhalar.Exhale.This is useful for a command to exhale.Tatoeba #8252673 by MilkFrosties, translation #6092717 by mailohilohi
- El doctor me dijo que inhalara y exhalara lenta y profundamente.The doctor told me to inhale and exhale slowly and deeply.This shows how to use exhalar when following medical instructions to inhale and exhale slowly and deeply.Tatoeba #678281 by darinmex, translation #678279 by darinmex
- Por favor, exhale lentamente después de inhalarPlease exhale slowly after inhaling
- El médico le pidió al paciente que soltara el aire lentamenteThe doctor asked the patient to exhale slowly
- Cuando tengas que exhalar, sopla el aire suavementeWhen you need to exhale, blow the air softly
- Después de una respiración profunda, lentamente exhala el aireAfter a deep breath, slowly exhale the air
- Mi abuelo me enseñó a soltar el aire antes de dispararMy grandfather taught me to exhale before shooting
- Debes exhalar por la boca.You should exhale through your mouth.
Example conversation
Sofía is teaching Mateo a breathing exercise.
- SofíaPrimero, inhala profundamente, Mateo.First, inhale deeply, Mateo.
- MateoYa lo hice, ¿y ahora?I already did, and now?
- SofíaAhora tienes que exhalar lentamente.Now you have to exhale slowly.
- MateoEstá bien, me siento más relajado.Okay, I feel more relaxed.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry exhalar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
