Ho fame
To say "I am hungry" in Italian, use Ho fame.
Ho fame is a statement used to express that you feel a need or desire to eat food.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Ho fame literally translates to "I have hunger."
How does it change in a sentence?
Because this phrase uses the verb avere (to have), you use the first-person singular conjugation ho to say "I am hungry". To say "we are hungry", you use the first-person plural of avere to form Abbiamo fame.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Sono fame, which is a common error for English speakers. This incorrectly uses the verb essere (to be) and translates to "I am hunger" (the concept of hunger itself).
Did you know?
- If you are so hungry that you feel faint, you might say Ho una fame da lupi, which translates to 'I have the hunger of wolves'.
- The root of fame comes from a Proto-Indo-European word meaning 'to disappear', reflecting how hunger makes one's strength or food vanish.
- In Italian, hunger is treated as a possession you 'have' rather than a state you 'are'. This logic extends to other physical sensations like Ho freddo for 'I am cold' and Ho caldo for 'I am hot'.
Examples in context
- Anche io ho fame.I am hungry too.This sentence shows how to say "I am hungry" in the context of "I am hungry too".Tatoeba #6533456 by Guybrush88, translation #6480115 by Micsmithel
- Dille che ho fame.Tell her that I am hungry.This sentence shows how to use Ho fame within a reported command.Tatoeba #11626188 by Guybrush88, translation #1741638 by Amastan
- Dammi del pane, ho fame.Give me bread, I am hungry.This sentence shows how to express the need for food when you Ho fame.Tatoeba #11096031 by Guybrush88, translation #10524776 by Adelpa
- Mi viene fame. Possiamo andare a mangiare una pizza?I'm getting hungry. Can we go and have a pizza?
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to do for lunch.
- FrancescoHo fame, Sofia.I am hungry, Sofia.
- SofiaVuoi andare a mangiare una pizza?Do you want to go eat a pizza?
- FrancescoSì, ottima idea!Yes, great idea!
- SofiaAndiamo subito allora.Let's go right away then.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fame, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
