Spanish Phrase
Con este humo me cuesta respirar.
Meaning
The speaker is saying that the smoke present makes it difficult for them to breathe. It conveys a physical discomfort caused by the smoke and can also hint at a feeling of suffocation or irritation.
When to use
Use this sentence when you are in a smoky environment—like a kitchen, a fire, or a crowded bar—and you want to express that the smoke is affecting your breathing. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a situation that feels oppressive.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Conestehumomecuestarespirar
Preposition "Con"
"Con" introduces the cause or circumstance – here it means "with" or "because of" the smoke.
Demonstrative "este"
"Este" points to something close to the speaker; it agrees in gender (masculine) with "humo".
Verb "costar" with infinitive
"Costar" can mean "to be difficult for someone" when followed by an infinitive, as in "me cuesta respirar".
Reflexive pronoun "me"
"Me" indicates the person who experiences the difficulty; it is the indirect object of "costar".
Infinitive "respirar"
The infinitive functions as the action that is difficult; it does not change for person or number.
🗨In Conversation
¿Te molesta el humo?
Does the smoke bother you?
Sí, con este humo me cuesta respirar.
Yes, this smoke makes it hard for me to breathe.
✕Common Mistakes
Con este humo me costo respirar.
"Costo" is the first‑person singular present of "costar" meaning "I cost"; the correct form here is "cuesta" (it costs).
Este humo me cuesta respirar.
Missing the preposition "Con" changes the meaning; you need "Con" to indicate the cause.
Con este humo me cuesta la respiración.
Use the infinitive "respirar" after "cuesta"; the noun "respiración" would be incorrect in this construction.
↔Alternatives
Este humo me dificulta respirar.
This smoke makes it difficult for me to breathe.
Me cuesta respirar por el humo.
I find it hard to breathe because of the smoke.
El humo me está ahogando.
The smoke is choking me.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, talking about discomfort caused by smoke is common in informal settings, especially when people gather around a grill or a campfire. Using "me cuesta" (it costs me) is a colloquial way to express difficulty, and it sounds more natural than a literal translation of "it is hard for me". Be aware that in formal contexts you might prefer "me resulta difícil respirar".