verb
to breathe, to respire
B1
Atmen means 'to breathe' or 'to respire'. It is a regular weak verb (Perfekt: geatmet) using the auxiliary haben. Non‑reflexive and intransitive, no special preposition. Conjugates regularly (du: atmest, Imperativ: Atme!). Useful for describing breathing, respiration, and related actions daily.
Examples
Ich atme tief ein und aus.
I breathe deeply in and out.
Ich atme tief, wenn ich gestresst bin.
I take deep breaths when I'm stressed.
Nach dem Sprint musste sie schwer atmen.
After the sprint she had to breathe heavily.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine air visibly moving in and out of the lungs; that's 'atmen'.
at + men — picture men taking breaths after running.
Notes
Regular weak verb meaning 'to breathe'; commonly used in reflexive expressions like 'ein- und ausatmen'. | Intransitive verb; passive forms are not applicable.