hongerig
/ˈɦɔ.ŋə.rəx/
The English phrase hungry is expressed in Dutch as hongerig. Wiktionary also lists honger hebben.
Meaning: affected by hunger, desirous of food (adj)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA |
|---|---|
| hongerig | /ˈɦɔ.ŋə.rəx/ |
| honger hebben |
The adjective hongerig means affected by hunger or desirous of food. Much like in English, it can be used figuratively to describe someone who is hungry for something non-food related, such as being hongerig naar succes (hungry for success).
Which one should you use?
While hongerig is the direct adjective for hungry, the phrase honger hebben is much more common in everyday spoken Dutch to express the physical sensation of being hungry.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɦɔ.ŋə.rəx/. The word has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Ik ben honger (I am hunger), which is a common error for English speakers. Instead, use Ik heb honger (I have hunger) or Ik ben hongerig (I am hungry).
Did you know?
- The Dutch word honger is used in the phrase hongerige wolf, which is often used as a metaphor for someone who is aggressively greedy or opportunistic.
- Dutch uses the word honger in the expression honger lijden, which describes the act of suffering from long-term famine or starvation.
- The Dutch word hebben in the phrase honger hebben descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *kap-, which meant 'to grasp'.
Examples in context
- Wie is er hongerig?Who's hungry?Tatoeba #8470320 by MarijnKp, translation #2524299 by CK
- Tom was echt hongerig.Tom was real hungry.Tatoeba #11795038 by Slam4, translation #2647389 by CK
- Ze zijn beide hongerig.Both of them are hungry.Tatoeba #13758332 by kroeckx, translation #2645545 by CK
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sophie and Lucas are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- SophieBen je al hongerig, Lucas?Are you hungry already, Lucas?
- LucasJa, ik ben ontzettend hongerig.Yes, I am incredibly hungry.
- SophieZullen we nu gaan eten?Shall we go eat now?
- LucasDat is een heel goed idee.That is a very good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hungry” translations and entries hongerig, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hebben, honger, hongerig, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
