how to say “to gasp for breath” in Hebrew
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/להתנשף-#.m4a” /]לְהִתְנַשֵּׁף
The basic Hebrew word for to breathe is the simple verb לנשום[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/להתנשף-#.m4a” /]. Likewise, a breath is נשימה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/להתנשף-#.m4a” /], as in:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/להתנשף-#.m4a” /]עכשיו כולם, קחו נשימה עמוקה.
Now everyone, take a deep breath.
The root of these words is נ.ש.מ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/להתנשף-#.m4a” /], the same root as that of נשמה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/להתנשף-#.m4a” /] – soul or spirit.
To exhale or to blow is לנשוף[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/להתנשף-#.m4a” /], whose root is נ.ש.פ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/להתנשף-#.m4a” /]. In נ.ש.פ, the first two letters are the same as the first two in נ.ש.מ, and the third, פ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/להתנשף-#.m4a” /], is made at the lips, just like the letter מ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/להתנשף-#.m4a” /] in נ.ש.מ. In other words, the two roots are very similar both in form and in meaning.
To breathe heavily or to gasp for breath is the reflexive התפעל verb להתנשף[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/להתנשף-#.m4a” /] (to exhale repeatedly).
For example, David might say to Sarah:
[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/להתנשף-#.m4a” /]אני כבר עולה במדרגות, את לא שומעת אותי מתנשף?
I’m just coming up the stairs, you don’t hear that I’m gasping for breath?