hambre
“hambre” means “hunger” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
hunger
Also: starvation, famine
📝 In Action
Tengo mucha hambre. ¿Cuándo comemos?
A1I'm very hungry. When are we eating?
El niño llora porque tiene hambre.
A1The child is crying because he's hungry.
La lucha contra el hambre es un objetivo mundial.
B1The fight against hunger is a global goal.
craving
Also: thirst, longing, ambition
📝 In Action
Tiene hambre de poder y no se detendrá ante nada.
B2He has a hunger for power and will stop at nothing.
Después de años sin viajar, tenía un hambre de aventura.
B2After years without traveling, she had a craving for adventure.
Su hambre de conocimiento era insaciable.
C1His thirst for knowledge was insatiable.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: hambre
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is the correct and most natural way to say 'I am very hungry' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word `faminem`, which also meant 'hunger' or 'famine'. Over time, the 'f' at the beginning of many Latin words softened into a silent 'h' in Spanish, giving us 'hambre'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people say 'el hambre' if 'hambre' is a feminine word? Shouldn't it be 'la hambre'?
Great question! `Hambre` is definitely a feminine word. We say `el hambre` simply to make it easier to pronounce. The `la` and the `a` sound at the start of `hambre` would run together awkwardly. This rule applies to any feminine noun that starts with a stressed 'a' or 'ha' sound, like `el agua` (water). Notice that if you add a describing word (adjective), it will be feminine: `el hambre terrible`.
What's the difference between 'tener hambre' and 'estar hambriento'?
They both mean 'to be hungry,' but `tener hambre` is much, much more common in everyday conversation. `Estoy hambriento` is also correct and means the same thing, but it can sound a bit more formal or dramatic, like something you'd read in a book. When in doubt, always use `tener hambre`.