German Phrase
Atme bitte tief ein.
Meaning
A polite request meaning ‘Please take a deep breath.’ It is often used in contexts where calmness, relaxation, or proper breathing technique is important, such as yoga, meditation, medical examinations, or before a public speaking moment.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want someone to inhale deeply in a gentle, respectful way – for example, guiding a student through a breathing exercise, calming a nervous friend, or instructing a patient before a lung test.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Atmebittetiefein
Imperative of a separable verb
‘Atmen’ becomes ‘Atme … ein’ in the imperative; the prefix ‘ein‑’ moves to the end of the clause.
Polite particle ‘bitte’
‘Bitte’ placed after the verb softens the command, making it a courteous request.
Adverb placement
Adverbs like ‘tief’ normally sit between the verb and the separable prefix in the imperative.
🗨In Conversation
Atme bitte tief ein.
Please take a deep breath.
Okay, danke.
Okay, thanks.
✕Common Mistakes
Atmen bitte tief ein.
The verb must be in the imperative singular ‘Atme’, not the infinitive ‘atmen’.
Bitte atmen tief ein.
‘Bitte’ can precede the verb, but the verb still needs the imperative form ‘atme’.
Tief ein atme bitte.
The correct order is verb – adverb – separable prefix; mixing the order sounds unnatural.
↔Alternatives
Bitte atme tief ein.
Please breathe in deeply.
Nimm einen tiefen Atemzug.
Take a deep breath.
Atme tief durch die Nase ein.
Breathe in deeply through the nose.
Cultural Tip
In German, adding ‘bitte’ to an imperative makes the command sound courteous rather than abrupt. Because ‘einatmen’ is a separable verb, the prefix ‘ein’ always moves to the end in the imperative form – ‘Atme … ein’. Forgetting this split is a common error for learners.