Inklingo

How to Say "hunger" in Spanish

English → Spanish

hambre

/ahm-breh//ˈambɾe/

NounA1General
Use 'hambre' to describe the physical sensation of needing to eat, the actual feeling of being hungry.
A small, sad cartoon child sitting at a simple wooden table, looking down at an empty bowl and clutching their rumbling stomach, symbolizing physical hunger.

Examples

Tengo mucha hambre. ¿Cuándo comemos?

I'm very hungry. When are we eating?

El niño llora porque tiene hambre.

The child is crying because he's hungry.

La lucha contra el hambre es un objetivo mundial.

The fight against hunger is a global goal.

Use 'tener' (to have), not 'ser' or 'estar'

In Spanish, you don't 'are' hungry, you 'have' hunger. Always use the verb tener. For example, Tengo hambre means 'I am hungry'.

The Tricky 'el' in 'el hambre'

Hambre is a feminine word, but we say el hambre to avoid the awkward la-a sound. If you add a word to describe it (an adjective), that word must be feminine: el hambre terrible.

Using 'estar' or 'ser'

Mistake: “Estoy hambre. / Soy hambre.”

Correction: `Tengo hambre.` Remember, many feelings in Spanish are things you 'have' with the verb `tener`, like hunger, thirst (`sed`), and fear (`miedo`).

apetito

/ah-peh-TEE-toh//apeˈtito/

NounA1General
Use 'apetito' to refer to a general desire or appetite for food, often implying a healthy or strong inclination to eat, rather than an urgent physical need.
A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration of a small, smiling child sitting at a table looking eagerly at a steaming bowl of soup.

Examples

Tengo mucho apetito después de correr.

I have a big appetite after running.

¿Perdiste el apetito? No has comido casi nada.

Did you lose your appetite? You haven't eaten hardly anything.

El olor del pan recién hecho me abrió el apetito.

The smell of freshly baked bread whetted my appetite.

Using 'Tener' with Apetito

Unlike English, where you 'have' hunger (I am hungry), in Spanish, you use the verb 'tener' (to have) with 'apetito': 'Tengo apetito' (I have appetite).

Using Ser/Estar

Mistake: “Soy apetito. / Estoy apetito.”

Correction: Tengo apetito. 'Apetito' is a noun, so you 'have' it, you don't 'be' it.

Hambre vs. Apetito

Learners often use 'apetito' when they mean the actual, pressing feeling of hunger. Remember, 'hambre' is the physical need to eat, while 'apetito' is more about the desire or capacity for food.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.