Estou com fome
/isˈto(w) kõ ˈfõ.mi/word by word
In Portuguese, "I am hungry" is expressed as Estou com fome.
The phrase Estou com fome is a common way to express the physical need or desire for food.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "I am with hunger".
Which one should you use?
While Estou com fome is the standard expression, you may also encounter Tenho fome, which means "I have hunger".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the verb estar (to be) because hunger is a temporary state. In Portuguese, estar is used for temporary conditions, whereas ser is used for permanent characteristics.
How do you pronounce it?
/isˈto(w) kõ ˈfõ.mi/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Sou fome. Because this uses the verb ser instead of estar, it would literally mean "I am hunger", implying you are the personification of hunger itself.
Did you know?
- The term fome is used in the common idiom matar a fome, meaning 'to kill the hunger', which is the standard way to say you are satisfying your appetite.
- In Brazil, someone might say estou com uma fome de leão to describe extreme hunger, which literally means they have the 'hunger of a lion'.
- The root of fome comes from a Proto-Indo-European word meaning 'to disappear', suggesting that hunger is a sensation that makes one's strength or presence fade.
Examples in context
- Estou com fome porque não almocei.I am hungry because I did not eat lunch.This sentence shows how to explain that you are hungry because you missed lunch.Tatoeba #905788 by alexmarcelo, translation #259470 by CK
- Estou com fome porque não tomei café da manhã.I am hungry because I did not eat breakfast.This sentence shows how to explain that you are hungry because you missed breakfast.Tatoeba #905790 by alexmarcelo, translation #410664 by blay_paul
- Estou com fome.I am hungry.This sentence is a simple statement of being hungry.Tatoeba #2192332 by MarlonX19, translation #409602 by CC
- Estou com fome, agradeço o convite!I am hungry, I appreciate the invitation!
- Tô com fome, vamos jantar!I am hungry, let's have dinner!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Lucas are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- BeatrizEstou com fome, Lucas.I am hungry, Lucas.
- LucasEu também estou com fome.I am hungry too.
- BeatrizVamos comer um sanduíche?Shall we eat a sandwich?
- LucasSim, parece uma boa ideia.Yes, that sounds like a good idea.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (estou, com, fome) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries com, estou, fome, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
