Gutom ako
Gutom ako is the Tagalog way to say "I am hungry".
This phrase is used to express a physical need for food.
What does it mean word for word?
Gutom means "hungry" and ako means "I".
Which one should you use?
While Gutom ako is a standard statement, Gutom na ako expresses that the state of being hungry has just started or is currently the case, translated as "I am hungry now".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In casual conversation, Gutom na ako is a common and natural way to express hunger compared to the more static Gutom ako. For a formal version, you can use Ako po ay nagugutom.
How does it change in a sentence?
Using the adjective gutom describes a state, but using the aspectual form nagugutom in Nagugutom ako emphasizes the ongoing sensation of becoming or feeling hungry. Adding na after the adjective in Gutom na ako indicates that the hunger is current or has just begun.
Did you know?
- Beyond meaning 'I', the root of ako can also mean to accept responsibility or claim something as one's own.
- The word gutom is also used as a noun to describe famine or extreme scarcity of food in a community.
- The word gutom is part of a massive linguistic family, appearing almost identically in related languages like Cebuano, Hiligaynon, and Waray-Waray.
Examples in context
- Oo nga, gutom na ako.Yes, I know, I am hungry.
- Wow! Naglalaway na ako sa gutom.Wow! I am drooling because of hunger.
- Gutom ako.I am hungry.
- Gutom ako dahil sa trabaho.I am hungry because of work.
Example conversation
Jose and Christina are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- JoseGutom ako, Christina.I am hungry, Christina.
- ChristinaGutom ka na ba?Are you hungry already?
- JoseOo, gutom na ako.Yes, I am hungry now.
- ChristinaSige, kumain na tayo.Okay, let's eat now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ako, gutom, CC BY-SA 4.0.
