From Bath to Bathe: Noun–Verb Word Pairs

In English, some words come in pairs: a noun and a verb that look almost the same. The noun names a thing, and the verb describes an action connected to that thing. Often, the noun ends in -th, while the verb changes to -the or -thee.

These pairs are useful to learn because the spelling is similar, but the meaning, grammar, and pronunciation are different.

Noun–Verb Pairs at a Glance

Noun	Verb	Example Sentence
bath	bathe	She took a long bath. / She likes to bathe in the lake.
teeth	teethe	The baby’s first teeth are coming in. / Babies usually teethe at six months.
breath	breathe	Take a deep breath. / Please breathe slowly.
cloth	clothe	The tailor bought new cloth. / Parents must clothe their children warmly.
loath (adj.)	loathe (verb)	He is loath to admit he is wrong. / She truly loathes lies.

Spelling and Pronunciation

• Nouns often end in -th and have the harder /θ/ sound (like thin).

• Verbs often end in -the or -thee and use the softer /ð/ sound (like this).

Examples:

• bath /bæθ/ → bathe /beɪð/

• teeth /tiːθ/ → teethe /tiːð/

• breath /brɛθ/ → breathe /briːð/

Why These Pairs Matter

• They show how English connects things (nouns) with actions (verbs).

• They train your ear to hear the difference between /θ/ and /ð/.

• They prevent mistakes in spelling, speaking, and meaning.

Quick Summary

• Noun = the thing.

• Verb = the action.

• Small changes in spelling and sound make a big difference in meaning.