J'ai faim
J'ai faim is the French phrase for "I am hungry".
This phrase is used to state that you feel a need to eat food.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase J'ai faim literally translates to "I have hunger".
How does it change in a sentence?
To express being "very" hungry, use the adverb très with the noun faim to say J'ai très faim. To turn the statement into a question such as "Are you hungry?", you can use a rising intonation with the phrase Tu as faim ?
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say Je suis faim by trying to translate "I am hungry" word-for-word. In French, you must use the verb avoir (to have) instead of être (to be).
Did you know?
- In informal French, instead of saying J'ai faim, you might hear people use the slang term avoir la dalle, which is much more colloquial.
- The French word for hunger faim is a homophone of the word fin, which means 'end'.
- While J'ai faim expresses physical hunger, French uses the phrase J'ai une faim de loup to say someone is as hungry as a wolf.
Examples in context
- J'ai faim car je n'ai pas déjeuné.I am hungry because I did not eat lunch.This sentence is useful for explaining that you are hungry because you did not eat lunch.Tatoeba #127495 by pfif, translation #259470 by CK
- J'ai faim, je n'ai pas mangé depuis ce matin.I am hungry, have not had food since the morning.This sentence is useful for explaining that you are hungry because you have not had food since the morning.Tatoeba #3937910 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #3937301 by User65345
- J'ai faim, car je n'ai pas pris mon petit déjeuner.I am hungry because I did not eat breakfast.This sentence is useful for explaining that you are hungry because you did not eat breakfast.Tatoeba #1970315 by nimfeo, translation #410664 by blay_paul
- J'ai faim. Pourriez-vous me recommander quelque chose à manger?I am hungry. Could you recommend something to eat?
- Excusez-moi, je suis affamée. Auriez-vous du pain s'il vous plaît?Excuse me, I am famished. Do you have any bread, please?
- J'ai la dalle, on peut commander une pizza?I am starving, can we order a pizza?
- J'ai trop faim, est-ce qu'on peut s'arrêter pour déjeuner rapidement?I am very hungry, can we stop for a quick lunch?
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are deciding what to do for lunch.
- EmmaJ'ai faim, on mange quoi ?I am hungry, what are we eating?
- GabrielMoi aussi, je veux bien une pizza.Me too, I would like a pizza.
- EmmaBonne idée, on commande maintenant ?Good idea, shall we order now?
- GabrielOui, je commande tout de suite.Yes, I am ordering right away.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
