Atemholen

Atemholen is a German term formed from Atem (breath) and holen (to fetch, to take). In standard usage it appears mainly in the verb phrase "Atem holen," meaning to take a breath, often to pause, recover, or prepare for activity. For example: "Ich muss kurz Atem holen." The expression emphasizes the action of reintroducing air into the lungs and is commonly associated with a momentary pause or relief.

The noun form "das Atemholen" is rare and mostly found in literary or stylistic contexts. More common alternatives in everyday language are "Atempause" (a pause for breath) or "durchatmen" (to breathe through, to take a deep breath). In medical, athletic, or technical contexts, more precise terms such as "Einatmen" (inhalation), "Ausatmen" (exhalation), or "Atemzug" (breath) are typically used.

Semantics and usage: Atemholen can denote a physical act of breathing, but it is often employed metaphorically to describe a moment of relief, a narrative pause, or a strategic respite after exertion. In literature or media, it may be used as a symbolic motif to signal calm after tension or a necessary pause before action.

Etymology: The word is a compound of Atem and holen, following a common pattern in German where a verb phrase is expressed through a noun-like combination, highlighting the act of obtaining air as a discrete moment.

Overall, Atemholen is a recognizable but relatively scarce expression in German, mostly confined to specific contexts where a literal or figurative pause for breath is being described.