Inklingo

How to Say "hunger" in Spanish

English → Spanish

hambre

ahm-brehˈambɾe

nounA1general
Use 'hambre' when you are describing the physical sensation of needing to eat, the basic 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-tohapeˈtito

nounA1general
Use 'apetito' to talk about a general desire or appetite for food, often in a less urgent or more social context.
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.

filo

FEE-lohˈfi.lo

nounB2informal
Use 'filo' to express a strong, urgent, and sometimes almost intense desire to eat, often implying you're ready to eat right away.
A small, hungry dog looking up at an empty bowl with a hopeful expression.

Examples

¡Qué filo tengo! Vamos a comer ya.

I'm so hungry! Let's eat now.

Después de caminar tanto, me dio un filo bárbaro.

After walking so much, I got incredibly hungry.

Traigo un filo que me comería una vaca.

I'm so hungry I could eat a cow.

Filo as a feeling

Just like 'hambre' (hunger), we use the verb 'tener' (to have) or 'dar' (to give) with 'filo' when it means hunger.

Don't use it in Spain

Mistake: “Tengo filo (in Madrid).”

Correction: Tengo hambre.

Hambre vs. Apetito

The most common mistake is using 'apetito' when you simply mean the physical feeling of needing food. Remember, 'hambre' is the direct translation for that basic, physical sensation of hunger.

Related Translations

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