Wim Hof
/vɪm hɒf/
CommonDutch extreme athlete known for cold exposure records and a breathing method that became a wellness trend.
Using 'Wim Hof' can mean the actual person, the specific breathing method, or the broader cold exposure lifestyle. Context determines which one.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | started doing wim hof breathing before the cold plunge and it actually helps | Using the breathing technique to prepare mentally for cold immersion. | reddit, 2023 |
| 02 | my coworker went full wim hof. ice bath every morning, breathwork before meetings | Describing someone who adopted the full cold and breathing lifestyle. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | wim hof breathing made me feel genuinely high for like 20 minutes. wild | Describing the altered state from the hyperventilation phase of the breathing method. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 04 | the wim hof to cold plunge to sauna pipeline has me spending 3 hours at the gym | Joking about how one wellness habit leads to an entire routine. | reddit, 2024 |
Use it when
- Referring to the Wim Hof breathing technique specifically.
- Referring to the cold exposure and breathwork wellness lifestyle broadly.
- Describing someone who is very into cold water and breathing exercises.
Do not use it when
- You mean cold water immersion without breathwork.Use “cold plunge” instead.
- You mean any breathing exercise that is not specifically the Wim Hof method.
Variations and related forms
Wim Hof vs cold plunge
Wim Hof
Wim Hof refers to a person and a complete method combining breathing and cold exposure.
VS
cold-plunge
Cold plunge refers only to the act of cold water immersion.
Origin and context
Wim Hof is a real person, born 1959 in the Netherlands, who became famous for cold exposure world records and teaching his breathing method globally. His influence on wellness internet culture peaked around 2018-2023.
- First seen
- 2010s
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/wim-hofUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0