verschnaufen
catch one's breath
The German word "verschnaufen" is a verb meaning "to catch one's breath" or "to take a breather". It is made up of the prefix "ver-" and the verb "schnaufen", where "schnaufen" means "to pant" or "to gasp".
Similar words:
- ausruhen (to rest)
- pausieren (to take a break)
- durchatmen (to breathe deeply)
Difference:
While "verschnaufen" specifically implies a short break to recover breath often after physical exertion, "ausruhen" or "pausieren" are more general terms for resting or taking a break, and "durchatmen" emphasizes deep or calming breaths rather than resting.
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Examples
Nach dem langen Lauf darfst du kurz verschnaufen.verb
After the long run, you may briefly catch your breath.
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