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respirer

to breathe

verb reh-spee-REH Less Common

Usage Note

Respirer covers both the physical act of breathing and the figurative sense of catching one's breath or having space to relax. The noun la respiration means 'breathing' or 'respiration'. The phrase respirer un grand coup means to take a deep breath, often to calm down.

Examples

"Respirez profondément et calmez-vous."

Natural Translation

Breathe deeply and calm down.

Literal Translation

Breathe deeply and calm-yourselves

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