I'm hungry
A common exaggeration meaning "I'm starving" or "I'm dying of hunger."
A colloquial and descriptive way to say "My stomach is rumbling."
An indirect way to express hunger by asking, "Is there anything to eat?"
Used when you are just a little hungry: "I'm a little hungry."
Mom, I'm hungry. Can we eat now?
I didn't eat breakfast. Now I'm starving!
It's 2 in the afternoon and I'm very hungry.
Excuse me, is there anything to eat around here? I'm a little hungry.
"Tengo hambre" is the standard, universally understood phrase across Spain and all of Latin America.
The expression "Ya me ruge la tripa" (My gut is rumbling) is very common and colorful.
In some regions, you might hear the informal slang "Tengo filo," which literally means "I have a blade/edge," but it's used to mean "I'm very hungry."
It's common to add an article for emphasis: "Tengo un hambre," which is like saying "I'm so hungry."
"Tengo hambre" is the standard. There are no significant common variations for this basic phrase.
Using 'Estoy hambre' instead of 'Tengo hambre'. — In Spanish, physical states like hunger, thirst, and cold are expressed with the verb 'tener' (to have), not 'ser' or 'estar' (to be). The literal translation is "I have hunger."
Pronouncing the 'h' in 'hambre'. — The letter 'h' is always silent in Spanish. The correct pronunciation is 'AHM-breh', not 'HAM-breh'.
Using 'hambriento' in casual conversation. — While 'Estoy hambriento' (I am hungry) is grammatically correct, it's much less common and sounds more formal or dramatic than 'Tengo hambre'. For everyday use, always default to 'Tengo hambre'.
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