How to Say "My Breath" in Spanish

mi aliento

/mi aljento/from spelling rules

The phrase 'my breath' in Spanish is translated as mi aliento.

This phrase refers specifically to the air that a person breathes in and out of their lungs.

Which one should you use?

While mi aliento specifically means 'my breath', the noun aliento is used more generally to refer to the physical act of breathing or the air itself.

The word aliento is often used metaphorically in Spanish to mean 'encouragement' or 'support', much like how one might say 'give someone second wind' in English.
In some contexts, the phrase de aliento is used to describe a very long or arduous task. To say a journey is de largo aliento means it requires great endurance over a long period of time.
The word aliento is likely a deverbal form of alentar, which means 'to encourage' or 'to breathe life into'. This links the physical act of breathing directly to the concept of providing support.

Déjame recuperar mi aliento.
Let me catch my breath.
This sentence is useful for learning how to express the need to catch one's breath using mi aliento.
Tatoeba #3983331 by carlosalberto, translation #3734130 by CK
No puedo comer ajo, ¡me deja mal aliento!
I can't eat garlic, it gives me bad breath!
Me di cuenta de que tenía mal aliento después del almuerzo.
I realized I had bad breath after lunch.
Necesito masticar chicle para refrescar mi aliento.
I need to chew gum to freshen my breath.
Me falta el aliento.
I am out of breath.
El frío hace visible mi aliento.
The cold makes my breath visible.

Sofía and Javier are walking in a cold park.

Sofía

Hace mucho frío y veo mi aliento.
It is very cold and I can see my breath.
Javier

Es verdad, el aire está helado.
It is true, the air is freezing.
Sofía

Debemos entrar a la casa pronto.
We should go inside the house soon.
Javier

Tienes razón, Sofía, vamos.
You are right, Sofía, let's go.

Sources

IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries aliento, mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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