Inklingo

How to Say "starvation" in Spanish

The Spanish word forstarvationis hambreA1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

English → SpanishA1
NounA1
In more extreme contexts, like 'morir de hambre'
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`).

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