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bath  –  bathe

[different vowel sound]

“Bath” as a noun means ‘the act of washing one’s whole body while sitting or lying in water; (also ‘bath-tub) a large long bowl-like container for water in which one washes oneself or somebody else’,

(a bath-tub)

e.g.

I have a bath every morning.

Is my bath ready?

[i.e. is the bath-tub with water in it ready for me to take a bath]

The maid will bath the baby.

“Bathe” is a verb and it means ‘to wash a wound or a part of a body; to go swimming in a pond, river or sea for enjoyment’,

e.g.

The nurse bathed my wound and then applied some ointment on it.

We bathed in the lake for a couple of hours and then lay on the beach.

(bathing in a lake)

Common Errors:

The girls decided to have a bath in the pond.  [wrong]

The girls decided to have a swim in the pond. [right]

OR

The girls decided to bathe/go bathing in the pond.  [right]

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