息継ぎって英語でなんて言うの？

"To take in air between strokes."= We can use the verb 'take in' to show that we are breathing in air/oxygen between swimming strokes. "To inhale between strokes."=the word 'inhale' would mean to breathe in air. This can be used to show when we need to take in air between strokes.

I had to inhale more air as I was getting tired'

A simple way to say this is ‘breathe between strokes’ – it’s short, simple and direct and is easily understood. Both sayings are instructions, you can say ‘take a breath between each stroke’ if you are telling someone or if it is about you ‘I usually take a breath between each stroke’.

John, keep up the pace! You're doing great! Yes...that was a nice tumble turn. Now kick with your legs and inhale between strokes. That's perfect!" Or, "You take a stroke with your right arm, then breathe....stroke with your left arm, then breathe....keep breathing in between strokes."

If you take a breath you are making sure you have enough oxygen in your body for doing exercise. To take a breath or to breathe in means the same things and you take a good amount of oxygen in your lungs to do for a little while. The medical term for breathing in or to take a breath is called inhale.

Coming up for air has a literal meaning and a figurative meaning. The literally meaning means to raise one's head above water while swimming to take a breath or inhale air. You can simply explain it this way: Slightly raise your head and inhale/take a breath of air.

When you are swimming, holding your breath and then having to breath again, you can call that "breathing" or "taking in air between strokes". For example, then you can say: -Whenever I swim, I have to take in air between strokes.