01
der Atem
breath
The air that living beings breathe in and out.
example
An kalten Tagen kann man seinen eigenen Atem sehen.
On cold days, you can see your own breath.
der Atem
breath
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
'Der Atem' (breath) is the noun that belongs to the verb 'atmen' (to breathe). While 'atmen' describes the action, 'der Atem' is the air that you move while doing it.
EXAMPLE
Er atmet sehr ruhig, wenn er schläft.
He breathes very calmly when he sleeps.
Typical collocations
Common verbs used with 'Atem' (breath) are 'tief Atem holen' (to take a deep breath) and 'den Atem anhalten' (to hold one's breath).
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Sprung ins kalte Wasser hielt er den Atem an.
Before jumping into the cold water, he held his breath.
Fixed expression
The expression 'außer Atem sein' (to be out of breath) is a fixed unit. It describes the state after great physical exertion, when you have to breathe quickly.
EXAMPLE
Ich bin die Treppe hochgelaufen und bin jetzt total außer Atem.
I ran up the stairs and am now totally out of breath.
Fixed expression
The expression 'einen langen Atem haben' (to have staying power) is figurative. It means that someone has a lot of patience and endurance for a lengthy task.
EXAMPLE
Um eine neue Sprache zu lernen, muss man einen langen Atem haben.
To learn a new language, you need to have staying power.
Compare with
Atem vs Luft
air
'die Luft' and 'der Atem' are both connected to breathing. 'Luft' is the gas around us that people and animals need in order to live. 'Atem' is the air that is currently going into or coming out of the body. The words can be confused because you breathe air in and out. When you are talking about what is in a room, outside, or in the surrounding environment, you say 'Luft'. When you are talking about a person or animal breathing, you say 'Atem'.
Atem
Nach dem schnellen Lauf hört Max seinen Atem deutlich.
After the fast run, Max can clearly hear his breathing.
Luft
Nach dem Regen ist die Luft im Park besonders frisch.
After the rain, the air in the park is especially fresh.
In real life
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