ojos hambrientos
/oxos ambɾjentos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "hungry eyes" is translated into Spanish as ojos hambrientos.
This phrase describes a look of strong desire or longing for someone or something.
What does it mean word for word?
This is a literal translation where ojos means "eyes" and hambrientos means "hungry".
Which one should you use?
While ojos hambrientos refers specifically to the eyes themselves, the alternative mirada hambrienta is commonly used to describe the actual look or gaze of desire.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective hambrientos must be masculine and plural to agree with the masculine plural noun ojos.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, intense eye contact driven by desire is often described using the verb devorar, meaning 'to devour'.
- If a person has 'hungry eyes' for food specifically, a Spaniard might use the phrase comer con los ojos, which means 'to eat with one's eyes'.
- While ojos hambrientos describes desire, the Spanish word for hunger hambre is used in the idiom tener hambre which literally means 'to have hunger' rather than 'to be hungry'.
Examples in context
- María tenía unos ojos golosos cuando vio el pastel de chocolate.María had hungry eyes when she saw the chocolate cake.
- Ella lo miraba con ojos hambrientos.She looked at him with hungry eyes.
- No pude evitar notar sus ojos hambrientos.I couldn't help noticing her hungry eyes.
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are at an art gallery looking at a painting.
- MaríaMira cómo el artista pintó esos ojos hambrientos.Look at how the artist painted those hungry eyes.
- AlejandroParece que el hombre desea algo con ansias.It seems like the man strongly desires something.
- MaríaExacto, es una mirada de puro anhelo.Exactly, it is a look of pure longing.
- AlejandroEs una obra muy intensa, María.It is a very intense work, María.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
