What is the Latin word for breath?

The usual Latin words for “breath” are spīritus, anima, respīrātiō; also spīrō, ănhēlātĭo, anhēlitus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“breath” in Latin

spīritusair, breath, breathing; light breeze; spirit, ghost animaair, breath; life, ghost; soul respīrātiōexhaling; breathing, respiration spīrōto breathe, draw breath, respire; to blow, breathe, burst forth; to breathe out, exhale, emit ănhēlātĭoa difficulty of breathing anhēlituspanting, puffing (difficulty in breathing); breath, exhalation, vapour; gasp

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

breath

spiritus; anima (breath of life): balitus from the mouth): respiratio. Short breath, spirandi or spiritus difficultas, meatus animae gravior; anhelatio or anhelitus (panting). Stinking breath, anima foetida, os foetidum, oris foetor, oris or animae gravitas. At one breath, uno spiritu, sine respiratione: to drink, non respirare in hauriendo. To hold the breath, animam continere or comprimere. To fetch, draw breath, spirare, spiritum or animam ducere, spiritum haurire. To stop the breath, animam or spiritum or spiritus viam intereludere [Vid: CHOKE]. To take breath again, respirare (PROP. and figuratively): se colligere, ad se redire (PROP. and figuratively). Out of breath, exanimatus. To put out of breath, exanimare. To be put out of breath with running, cursu exanimari. To the last breath, usque ad extremum spiritum. A breath of air, aura. The breath of popular favor, aura popularis.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for breath?: The usual Latin words for “breath” are spīritus, anima, respīrātiō; also spīrō, ănhēlātĭo, anhēlitus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.