How to Say I'm Hungry in Spanish

You're at a family dinner in Bogotá, your stomach is growling, and you announce proudly, "Soy hambriento." The table goes quiet, then someone gently laughs. You wanted to say you're hungry, so what went wrong?

Why "I'm hungry" Isn't Translated Word for Word

If you want to know how to say I'm hungry in Spanish, the answer is a small surprise: Spanish doesn't use "to be" for hunger. English says "I am hungry," treating hunger as a state you are in. Spanish treats it as something you have, almost like owning a pet that needs feeding.

That one difference trips up nearly every beginner, and it covers a whole family of everyday sensations: thirst, sleepiness, fear, hurry. Once you see the pattern, you get a dozen useful phrases for the price of one. This post shows you the right phrase, the polite versions, and the common mistakes to avoid.

The Basic Phrase: Tener Hambre

The standard way to say you're hungry is "Tengo hambre" (I'm hungry, literally "I have hunger"). It uses tener (to have), one of the most important verbs in Spanish, and the noun hambre (hunger).

Key Phrases

• Tengo hambre (TEHN-goh AHM-breh) — I'm hungry
• Tengo mucha hambre (TEHN-goh MOO-chah AHM-breh) — I'm very hungry
• Tengo un poco de hambre (TEHN-goh oon POH-koh deh AHM-breh) — I'm a little hungry
• ¿Tienes hambre? (tee-EH-nehs AHM-breh) — Are you hungry?
• Tenemos hambre (teh-NEH-mohs AHM-breh) — We're hungry
• No tengo hambre (noh TEHN-goh AHM-breh) — I'm not hungry

[AUDIO: Tengo hambre]

Grammar Note

Because hambre is a noun, you intensify it with an adjective that agrees with it, not with an adverb. Say mucha hambre, never muy hambre. Although hambre is feminine, it takes the article el in the singular (el hambre) because it starts with a stressed a. After tener you usually skip the article altogether, so you still say tengo hambre.

Here is the present tense of tener so you can use the phrase with anyone:

• yo tengo hambre
• tú tienes hambre
• él/ella/usted tiene hambre
• nosotros tenemos hambre
• ellos/ellas/ustedes tienen hambre

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Saying "Estoy hambre" or "Soy hambre". Both sound wrong because hunger is not paired with ser or estar.
• Saying "Tengo muy hambre". Use mucha instead of muy.

In Spanish-speaking countries, being hungry is often a social cue. In Mexico, a host who hears "tengo hambre" may immediately offer you a plate, and refusing the first offer is usually just politeness. If you really are hungry, a cheerful "Sí, gracias" is welcome.

Hungry Like a Wolf: Expressive Alternatives

Spanish speakers love colorful ways to exaggerate hunger. These are fun to learn and make you sound far more natural.

Key Phrases

• Me muero de hambre (meh MWEH-roh deh AHM-breh) — I'm starving (literally "I'm dying of hunger")
• Tengo un hambre de lobo (TEHN-goh oon AHM-breh deh LOH-boh) — I'm ravenous (literally "wolf's hunger")
• Estoy famélico/a (ehs-TOY fah-MEH-lee-koh) — I'm famished
• Se me hace agua la boca (seh meh AH-seh AH-gwah lah BOH-kah) — my mouth is watering
• Tengo el estómago vacío (TEHN-goh ehl ehs-TOH-mah-goh bah-SEE-oh) — my stomach is empty

Note that famélico is the one exception here that uses estar, because it is an adjective rather than a noun. It is also a little formal, so stick with tengo hambre in daily life.

In Argentina and Uruguay you will hear "Tengo un hambre que no veo" (I'm so hungry I can't see). Many regions have their own jokes about hunger, which is a good reason to listen closely at the table.

The Same Pattern for Thirst, Sleep and More

Here is the payoff. The tener + noun pattern works for lots of physical feelings, so learn the structure once and reuse it.

• Tengo sed — I'm thirsty
• Tengo sueño — I'm sleepy
• Tengo calor — I'm hot
• Tengo frío — I'm cold
• Tengo miedo — I'm afraid
• Tengo prisa — I'm in a hurry

One contrast to remember: to say you're full, Spanish does use estar, with "Estoy lleno/a" or "Estoy satisfecho/a", because these are adjectives. A softer, very common choice at a dinner table is "Ya comí bastante" (I've eaten enough).

Putting It to Use at the Table

Next time you're in a restaurant or a friend's home, follow these simple steps.

• Start with the basic phrase: "Tengo hambre."
• Add a request: "Tengo hambre. ¿Qué hay de comer?" (I'm hungry. What is there to eat?)
• In a restaurant, ask for the menu: "Tengo mucha hambre. ¿Me trae la carta, por favor?" (I'm very hungry. Could you bring me the menu, please?) In Latin America you will often hear menú instead of carta.
• When you've had enough, say: "Estaba delicioso, ya estoy satisfecho." (It was delicious, I'm full now.)

A short exchange you might hear:

• —¿Tienes hambre? (Are you hungry?)
• —Sí, ¡me muero de hambre! (Yes, I'm starving!)
• —Entonces vamos a comer. (Then let's go eat.)

Practice Exercises

• Fill in the blank: Nosotros ____ hambre. (tener)
• Translate: "I'm very hungry."
• Choose the correct option: Ella tiene (muy / mucha) hambre.
• Translate: "Are you hungry?" (informal)
• Fill in the blank: Mi hermano ____ sed. (tener)
• Which is correct? (a) Estoy hambre (b) Tengo hambre

Answer Key

• tenemos
• Tengo mucha hambre.
• mucha
• ¿Tienes hambre?
• tiene
• (b) Tengo hambre

Conclusion

Saying you're hungry in Spanish is easy once you drop the English habit of using "to be." Keep these takeaways in mind:

• Use tener + hambre: tengo hambre, never soy or estoy hambre.
• Intensify with mucha, not muy, or go colorful with me muero de hambre.
• The same pattern works for sed, sueño, frío, calor and miedo.

Ready to keep going? Try reading our post on the verb tener to master every form, then practice a hungry conversation with a friend or in our Spanish lessons. Leave your favorite food phrase in the comments, and ¡buen provecho!