Italian Phrase
Con questo fumo faccio fatica a respirare.
Meaning
The speaker is saying that the smoke present makes it hard for them to breathe. It can refer to cigarette smoke, fire smoke, or any thick, irritating haze.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to explain why you feel short‑of‑breath in a smoky environment – for example, in a crowded bar, near a campfire, or when someone is smoking nearby.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Conquestofumofacciofaticaarespirare
Con (preposition)
‘Con’ means ‘with’ and introduces the instrument or circumstance causing the action.
questo (demonstrative adjective)
‘Questo’ agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies; here it points to ‘fumo’ (masculine singular).
faccio fatica a + infinitive
A common construction meaning ‘to have difficulty doing something’; the preposition ‘a’ is required before the infinitive.
respirare (infinitive)
The infinitive form of the verb ‘to breathe’; used after ‘a’ in the ‘faccio fatica a’ pattern.
🗨In Conversation
Perché ti sei coperto la bocca?
Why did you cover your mouth?
Con questo fumo faccio fatica a respirare.
With this smoke I have trouble breathing.
✕Common Mistakes
Con questo fumo fa fatica a respirare.
The verb must agree with the subject; use ‘faccio’ (I do) not ‘fa’ (he/she does).
Con questo fumo faccio difficoltà a respirare.
‘Difficoltà’ is a noun; the idiomatic structure uses the verb phrase ‘faccio fatica a’.
Con questo fumo respirare è difficile.
While understandable, the natural order in Italian places the difficulty phrase before the infinitive.
↔Alternatives
Questo fumo mi rende difficile respirare.
This smoke makes it difficult for me to breathe.
Con questo fumo è difficile respirare.
With this smoke it’s hard to breathe.
Il fumo mi impedisce di respirare bene.
The smoke prevents me from breathing well.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, smoking is prohibited inside public venues such as restaurants, bars, and offices. If you’re in a private setting and the smoke is bothering you, it’s perfectly acceptable to say ‘Con questo fumo faccio fatica a respirare’ and ask for fresh air. The ‘faccio fatica a’ construction is very common in everyday speech to express any kind of difficulty, not just physical strain.