der Atemzug
breath
The individual act of breathing in and out.
EXAMPLE
Er nahm einen tiefen Atemzug, bevor er ins kalte Wasser sprang.
He took a deep breath before jumping into the cold water.
der Atemzug
breath
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Meanings
in einem Atemzug
in one breath
A fixed expression meaning that something is said or done at the same time or directly one after another without a pause.
EXAMPLE
Sie lobte und kritisierte ihn in einem Atemzug.
She praised and criticized him in one breath.
Usage tips
Compound word
The word is made up of 'Atem' (breath) and 'Zug' (pull/draw). Here, 'Zug' should be understood in the sense of 'ziehen' (to pull) or 'saugen' (to suck). So an 'Atemzug' (breath) is literally a 'draw of breath.'
EXAMPLE
Mit jedem Atemzug spürte er die kalte Bergluft.
With every breath, he felt the cold mountain air.
Typical verbs
'Atemzug' (breath) is often combined with the verbs 'nehmen' (to take) or 'machen' (to make/do) to describe the active act of taking in air.
EXAMPLE
Sie machte einen tiefen Atemzug und begann zu singen.
She took a deep breath and began to sing.
Typical adjectives
Common adjectives that describe a breath are 'tief' (deep), 'kurz' (short), 'langsam' (slow), 'ruhig' (calm), or also 'der letzte Atemzug' (the last breath).
EXAMPLE
Sein letzter Atemzug war friedlich.
His last breath was peaceful.
Fixed expression
The expression 'in einem Atemzug' (in one breath) is a fixed idiom. It is used to express that two things are said or done directly one after another or at the same time, often even though they are contradictory.
EXAMPLE
Er nannte ihre Idee brillant und völlig unrealistisch in einem Atemzug.
He called her idea brilliant and completely unrealistic in one breath.
Compare with
Atemzug vs Atem
breath
Atem refers to the air that a living being breathes in and out. Atemzug, by contrast, refers to a single, countable act of breathing in and out. When the exhaled air is meant, Atem is appropriate; when a single act is being described or counted, Atemzug is appropriate.
Atemzug
In der kalten Luft nahm sie einen tiefen Atemzug.
She took a deep breath in the cold air.
Atem
In der kalten Luft war ihr Atem deutlich sichtbar.
Her breath was clearly visible in the cold air.
In real life
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