schnaufen
Translation
to pant, to puff, to wheeze, to chug
Examples
Nach dem Rennen schnaufte er schwer.
After the race, he was panting heavily.
Die alte Dampflok schnaufte den Berg hinauf.
The old steam locomotive chugged up the mountain.
Grammar Patterns
schnaufen to pant, to puff. After the race, he was panting heavily.
Similar Words
keuchen (to gasp), atmen (to breathe), pusten (to blow)
Etymology
Onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of heavy breathing or puffing. Related to 'sniff' and 'snout'.
Memory Tips
The 'schn-' sound is related to the nose ('Schnauze' is snout). Think of breathing heavily through your nose.