How to Say ‘Breathes badly / has trouble breathing’ in French
Respire mal
ruh-SPEER mahl
[ruh-SPEER mahl]
💬 Usage Tip: Respirer = to breathe. Mal means badly, but in medical French it often means with difficulty. So respire mal = is having trouble breathing.
🇫🇷 In France: When describing symptoms in France, simple concrete phrases are best. You don't need fancy medical vocabulary to be understood.
Phrase Breakdown
Respire
[ruh-SPEER]
breathes
Verb respirer in the third person singular, describing the action of breathing.
Elle respire plus vite que d'habitude.
She breathes faster than usual.
mal
[mahl]
badly
Adverb meaning poorly; here it describes difficulty breathing.
Elle respire mal depuis deux jours.
She has been breathing badly for two days.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant scenarios were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”
Tom H., 38, Chef
“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”
Nina W., 29, Graduate Student
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer