How to spell breathe
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
breathe
B-R-E-A-T-H-E
The part to watch: the same letters as breath, with an e on the end. The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Breathe is the verb: the thing you do. The e on the end changes the sound, so ea says "ee" and th sounds softer. Without the e it becomes breath.
Breathe is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with a vowel that makes a surprising sound. In these words a vowel, or a pair of vowels, makes a sound it does not usually make, such as the u in busy or the o in women.
This one is different. Here ea makes its usual "ee" sound. Breathe is in this group because breath, with the same letters, says a short e.
Common mistakes with breathe
- Wrong: breethRight: breathe
A way to remember it
Breathe has an extra e because breathing goes on and on: breath is the short noun, breathe is longer.
Breathe in syllables
breathe
Breathe has one syllable, so learn it as a whole word.
In a sentence
Fish breathe through their gills.
Breathe on the statutory list
Breathe is on the Year 3 and 4 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 3 and 4, when they are 7 to 9.
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with breathe, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with a vowel that makes a surprising sound
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as breathe.
More words
Questions parents ask
Is it breathe or breath?
Both are words. Use breathe, with an e, for the action: "Fish breathe through their gills." Use breath, without the e, for the air itself: "Take a deep breath."
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