hungrig
/ˈhʊŋ.ʁɪç/
The English word "hungry" is translated into German as hungrig or through the phrase Hunger haben.
Meaning: affected by hunger, desirous of food (adj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| hungrig | /ˈhʊŋ.ʁɪç/ /ˈhʊŋ.ʁɪk/ |
| Hunger haben | /ˈhʊŋɐ ˈhaːbən/ (word by word) |
You can use the adjective hungrig to describe being affected by hunger or desirous of food. Alternatively, the common phrase Hunger haben expresses the same state.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Hunger haben, the word Hunger is a masculine noun. It can be used with an article or a possessive pronoun, such as in the phrase Ich habe großen Hunger (I have great hunger).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhʊŋ.ʁɪç/. The first of two syllables is stressed.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Ich bin Hunger to mean "I am hungry", which is a common mistake for English speakers. Instead, use the adjective hungrig or the phrase Hunger haben.
Did you know?
- While English speakers say 'I am hungry', a German speaker might say Ich habe Kohldampf, a colloquialism that translates roughly to 'having coal steam'.
- If you are not just hungry but 'starving', you might say you have Bärenhunger, which literally translates to 'bear hunger'.
- The German word haben in Hunger haben shares a root with the English word 'have', both originating from the Proto-Indo-European root kap-, meaning 'to grasp'.
Examples in context
- Tom war so hungrig.Tom was so hungry.This sentence shows how to use hungrig to describe a past state.Tatoeba #10248134 by wolfgangth, translation #5757815 by CM
- Wie hungrig bist du?How hungry are you?This sentence uses hungrig to ask about the current intensity of hunger.Tatoeba #3551710 by luft, translation #3550097 by CK
- Ich war sehr hungrig.I was very hungry.This sentence demonstrates the use of hungrig with an intensifier.Tatoeba #898660 by Esperantostern, translation #37858 by CK
- 383 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Laura are deciding what to do for lunch.
- LukasBist du schon hungrig, Laura?Are you hungry already, Laura?
- LauraJa, ich bin wirklich sehr hungrig.Yes, I am really very hungry.
- LukasWollen wir jetzt etwas essen gehen?Do we want to go eat something now?
- LauraDas ist eine gute Idee!That is a good idea!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hungry” translations and entries hungrig, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (Hunger, haben) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hunger, haben, hungrig, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
