Italian Phrase
Sta facendo entrare aria fredda.
Meaning
The sentence means 'He/She is letting cold air in' or 'Cold air is being let in.' It describes an ongoing action where someone opens a window, door, or otherwise allows chilly air to flow into a room.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to comment on someone creating a draft, when you’re complaining about a chilly room, or when you’re describing the act of ventilating a space with cold air.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Stafacendoentrareariafredda
Progressive periphrasis (stare + gerundio)
In Italian, the present progressive is formed with the verb 'stare' followed by a gerund (e.g., 'sta facendo'), indicating an action happening right now.
Causative construction (fare + infinitivo)
When 'fare' is followed by an infinitive, it expresses that the subject causes someone or something to perform the action (e.g., 'fa entrare' → 'makes/lets in').
Adjective agreement
Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify; 'fredda' matches the feminine singular noun 'aria'.
Verb 'entrare' (to enter)
'Entrare' is an intransitive verb; in this construction it describes the movement of air into a space.
🗨In Conversation
Sta facendo entrare aria fredda nella stanza.
He's letting cold air into the room.
Sì, ma è meglio aprire la finestra per far circolare l'aria fresca.
Yes, but it's better to open the window to let fresh air circulate.
✕Common Mistakes
Fa entrando aria fredda.
The verb 'fare' should be followed by an infinitive, not a gerund. Use 'fa entrare' or the progressive 'sta facendo entrare'.
Sta facendo entrare aria freddo.
Adjectives must agree with the noun's gender; 'aria' is feminine, so use 'fredda'.
Stare facendo entrare aria fredda.
The correct progressive form is 'sta facendo', not 'stare facendo'.
↔Alternatives
Sta facendo entrare dell'aria fredda.
He/She is letting some cold air in.
Sta facendo entrare aria gelida.
He/She is letting icy air in.
Sta facendo entrare aria fredda nella stanza.
He/She is letting cold air into the room.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, especially in the summer, people often open windows to let in 'aria fresca' (fresh air). In winter, the same action can create a 'corrente d'aria' (draft) that feels uncomfortable. When speaking, Italians may soften the comment with 'un po' di' (a bit of) to avoid sounding too critical.