Knowing how to say “I am hungry” in Spanish is an essential phrase to learn. Not only will it help you communicate your basic needs, but it will also allow you to connect with the local culture and people. In this article, we’ll explore the different ways to express hunger in Spanish, from basic phrases to more advanced expressions.
Before we dive into the different ways to say “I am hungry” in Spanish, it’s important to understand some basic vocabulary related to hunger. The most common word for hunger in Spanish is “hambre.” Other related words include “apetito” (appetite) and “comida” (food). Knowing these words will help you better understand the context in which hunger-related phrases are used.
Phrases to Say ‘I am Hungry’ in Spanish
Now that you have a basic understanding of hunger-related vocabulary, let’s explore some practical usage and examples of how to say “I am hungry” in Spanish. The most common phrase is “tengo hambre,” which translates to “I have hunger.” Other common phrases include “estoy hambriento/a” (I am hungry) and “me muero de hambre” (I am dying of hunger). Additionally, you can use more advanced expressions, such as “me comería una vaca entera” (I could eat a whole cow).
How to use ‘Tengo Hambre’
The most common way to say “I am hungry” in Spanish is “tengo hambre.” The verb “tener” means “to have,” and in this context, it is used to express the feeling of hunger.
Here are a few examples of how to use “tengo hambre” in a sentence:
- Tengo hambre. ¿Quieres ir a comer algo? (I am hungry. Do you want to go eat something?)
- Siempre tengo hambre después de hacer ejercicio. (I always get hungry after exercising.)
- No puedo concentrarme porque tengo mucha hambre. (I can’t concentrate because I’m very hungry.)
‘Hambriento’ vs ‘Hambre’
While “tengo hambre” is the most common way to say “I am hungry” in Spanish, you may also hear the words “hambriento” and “hambre” used in different contexts.
“Hambriento” is an adjective that means “starving.” It is used to describe a person or an animal that needs food. Here are a few examples of how to use “hambriento” in a sentence:
- Después de caminar todo el día, estábamos hambrientos. (After walking all day, we were hungry.)
- Los leones están hambrientos y necesitan cazar. (The lions are hungry and need to hunt.)
- No puedo esperar más, estoy hambriento. (I can’t wait anymore, I’m hungry.)
On the other hand, “hambre” is a noun that means “hunger.” It is used to express the feeling of hunger, as in “tengo hambre” (I am hungry) or “tenemos hambre” (we are hungry). Here are a few examples of how to use “hambre” in a sentence:
- Tengo mucha hambre, ¿qué hay para comer? (I’m very hungry, what’s there to eat?)
- La falta de comida ha causado mucha hambre en el país. (The lack of food has caused a lot of hunger in the country.)
- Si no comes regularmente, puedes sentir hambre todo el tiempo. (If you don’t eat regularly, you can feel hungry all the time.)
Common Words and Phrases with ‘hambre’
If you’re looking to learn how to say “I am hungry” in Spanish, it’s important to understand the hunger-related vocabulary. Here are some common words and phrases, verbs and conjugations, and nouns and adjectives that will help you express your hunger in Spanish.
- Tengo hambre: This is the most common way to say “I am hungry” in Spanish. It literally translates to “I have hunger.”
Tengo mucha hambre: This phrase means “I am very hungry.” The word “mucha” is used to emphasize the intensity of your hunger.
¿Tienes hambre?: This is a question that means “Are you hungry?” It’s a good phrase to know if you’re trying to ask someone if they want to eat.
Quiero comer algo: This phrase means “I want to eat something.” It’s useful if you’re trying to express that you’re hungry and looking for food.
Conjugation of the verb ‘tener’
| Pronouns | PRESENT SIMPLE | PRETERITE | IMPERFECT |
| yo | tengo | tuve | tenía |
| tú | tienes | tuviste | tenías |
| él / ella / usted | tiene | tuvo | tenía |
| vos* | tenés | tuviste | tenías |
| nosotros / -as | tenemos | tuvimos | teníamos |
| ellos / -as / ustedes | tienen | tuvieron | tenían |
| vosotros / -as | tenéis | tuvisteis | teníais |
Example Sentences
When you’re learning a new language, it’s important to practice using it in context. Here are some example sentences to help you understand how to use “I am hungry” in Spanish:
- Tengo muchísima hambre. (I am very hungry.)
- ¿Tienes hambre? (Are you hungry?)
- Él/ella tiene hambre. (He/she is hungry.)
- Nosotros tenemos hambre. (We are hungry.)
- Ellos/ellas tienen hambre. (They are hungry.)
- At a restaurant: “¿Tienes hambre? Vamos a pedir algo de comer.” (Are you hungry? Let’s order something to eat.)
- At home: “Mamá, tengo hambre. ¿Puedo comer una manzana?” (Mom, I’m hungry. Can I eat an apple?)
- Out with friends: “Chicos, ¿quieren ir a comer algo? Yo tengo hambre.” (Guys, do you want to go get something to eat? I’m hungry.)
Advanced Expressions of Hunger
When you want to express extreme hunger in Spanish, there are a few different phrases you can use. Here are some examples:
- Estoy muriendo de hambre – This phrase translates to “I’m dying of hunger.” It’s a common expression used to describe intense hunger.
Estoy famélico/famélica – This phrase means “I’m famished.” It’s a more formal way of expressing extreme hunger.
Tengo un hambre que no veas – This phrase roughly translates to “I have a hunger that you wouldn’t believe.” It’s a more colorful way of expressing extreme hunger.
In addition to these expressions, there are some cultural nuances to keep in mind when talking about hunger in Spanish. For example:
- Me muero de hambre – This phrase is similar to “Estoy muriendo de hambre,” but it’s more common in some Spanish-speaking countries, such as Mexico.
- Soy un tragón/una tragona / comilón – comilona – This phrase means “I’m a big eater.” It’s a way of expressing that you have a big appetite, but it’s not necessarily related to hunger.
- Tengo un hambre para cien: It means that I am so hungry that is the equivalent of a hundred hungry people.
- Yo soy de buen comer – This phrase means “I’m a good eater.” It’s similar to “Soy un tragón/una tragona,” but it’s more commonly used in Spain.
Nouns and Adjectives
- El hambre: This is the Spanish noun for “hunger.” It is a feminine noun, although when it is in the singular form, it takes the masculine articles “el” or “un“. It’s important to know this word if you’re trying to express your hunger in a more formal or academic context.
- Hambriento/a: This is the Spanish adjective for “hungry.” It’s important to know this word if you’re trying to describe someone who is hungry.
- Tener frío: This phrase means “to be cold.” It’s not directly related to hunger, but it’s a common phrase that you might hear in the context of being uncomfortable or needing warmth.
How do you say ‘I am thirsty’ in Spanish?
Similar to “tengo hambre” is when you want to say ‘I am thirsty’. In Spanish, you can say ‘Tengo sed‘. The phrase ‘Tengo sed’ literally means ‘I have thirst’ in English.
We cover this topic and other uses of the verb tener in the Spanish Course for Beginners!
