What it means
تنگی نفس (tangi-ye nafas) is the Persian term for shortness of breath, the sensation that you cannot draw a full or easy breath. It is a compound of two parts from different roots: تنگی (tangi), “tightness” or “narrowness,” from the native Persian word تنگ (tang), and نفس (nafas), “breath,” which comes from Arabic. People use it both casually, after running for a bus, and clinically, when describing a symptom to a doctor. A close everyday phrasing is نفستنگی (nafas-tangi), which means the same thing.
How to use it
- تنگی نفس دارم (tangi-ye nafas daram) “I have shortness of breath.”
- نفسم بالا نمیاد (nafasam bala nemiyad) “I can’t catch my breath.”
- از وقتی سرما خوردم دچار تنگی نفس شدم (az vaghti sarma khordam dochar-e tangi-ye nafas shodam) “Since I caught a cold I’ve had shortness of breath.”
- تنگی نفست شدید بود برو دکتر (tangi-ye nafaset shadid bud boro doktor) “If your shortness of breath is severe, go to a doctor.”
Cultural note
تنگی نفس is the standard phrase you will hear in Iranian clinics, pharmacies, and on health programs, so it is worth knowing if you ever need to describe a symptom in Persian. Pharmacists in Iran are often a first stop for minor complaints, and saying تنگی نفس دارم is a normal way to start that conversation. The word تنگ on its own also means “tight” or “narrow” in many ordinary contexts, like tight shoes or a narrow alley, which makes the image behind the term easy to remember.