respiri

Respiri is the Italian noun meaning breaths or respirations. In everyday use it usually refers to the act of breathing and the individual breaths themselves. The singular form is respiro, while the plural is respiri (as in “i respiri”). The same spelling also appears as the second-person present tense of the verb respirare: tu respiri, meaning you breathe. In medical or scientific contexts, the terms respiro and respirazione are more common for the process.

In biology, respiration describes how organisms exchange gases with their environment and derive energy from nutrients. External respiration occurs in the lungs, where oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide is released. Internal respiration refers to gas exchange between blood and tissues. Cellular respiration, carried out in cells’ mitochondria, uses oxygen to oxidize nutrients, producing ATP and carbon dioxide as a byproduct. The word respiri itself is not a technical term; the technical nouns are respiro, respirazione, and respiratoria.

In clinical usage, respiratory medicine covers the anatomy of the airways, lungs, diaphragm, and chest muscles; the mechanics of ventilation and gas exchange; and diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumonia. Diagnostic tools include spirometria and arterial blood gas analysis. Treatments focus on improving airflow and oxygen delivery, sometimes with inhaled medicines, ventilation support, or lifestyle changes.

In everyday Italian, phrases such as prendere un respiro (to take a breath) and respiro profondo (deep breath) are common. The plural respiri appears in reference to multiple breaths, while the verb form tu respiri indicates that someone is currently breathing.