Which one should you use?
The full adjective form голо́дный is typically used as an attribute, such as when describing a noun (e.g., 'a hungry wolf'). In contrast, the short forms are more common when you want to state a current state of being, such as 'I am hungry'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Russian uses different forms of this word depending on gender, number and sentence position. The long forms are голо́дный (masculine), голо́дная (feminine), голо́дное (neuter) and голо́дные (plural). To state a current state of being, you can use the short forms: голо́ден (masculine), голо́дна (feminine) and голо́дны (plural). For example, you would use голо́дная when describing a female person or a feminine noun and голо́дное for a neuter noun. The plural form голо́дные describes multiple people or objects.
How do you pronounce it?
golódnyj
When do people say it?
In informal settings, rather than using the adjective, speakers often use the phrase Хочу есть to say 'I want to eat' or the phrase Хочется перекусить to say 'I feel like snacking.'
Did you know?
- If you are 'hungry' for information or news, Russians might use the word жа́ждущий (thirsty) instead of any form of 'hungry', switching the sensation entirely.
- The phrase голо́дный взгляд translates to a 'hungry look', but it is frequently used idiomatically to describe someone who is greedy or looking at something with intense, predatory desire.
- If you say 'Я голо́ден' (I am hungry) in a formal or highly dramatic way, you might sound more like a character in a 19th-century novel than a person in a modern cafe.
Examples in context
- Анна: Извините, я очень голодна. Вы можете порекомендовать место для обеда?Anna: Excuse me, I'm very hungry. Can you recommend a place to have lunch?
- Вася: Чувак, хочется перекусить. Куда пойдем?Vasya: Dude, I feel like snacking. Where should we go?
- Ты голо́дный?Ty golodnyy?Are you hungry?
Example conversation
Sergey and Anastasia are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- Сергей SergeyАнастасия, ты голо́дная?Anastasiya, ty golodnaya?Anastasia, are you hungry?
- Анастасия AnastasiaДа, я очень голо́дная.Da, ya ochen' golodnaya.Yes, I am very hungry.
- Сергей SergeyЯ тоже голо́дный.Ya tozhe golodnyy.I am hungry too.
- Анастасия AnastasiaДавай пойдём в кафе.Davay poydyom v kafe.Let's go to a cafe.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hungry” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
