నాకు ఆకలిగా ఉంది
naaku aakaligaa undi
In Telugu, "I am hungry" is expressed as నాకు ఆకలిగా ఉంది (naaku aakaligaa undi).
The phrase is used to express a physical need or desire for food.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "to me, it is hunger-ly".
How does it change in a sentence?
A common alternative used to express the sensation of hunger actively occurring is నాకు ఆకలి వేస్తోంది, which translates to "hunger is striking/coming to me".
How do you pronounce it?
naaku aakaligaa undi
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to follow English grammar by saying నేను ఆకలిగా ఉన్నాను. In Telugu, hunger is something that happens to you, so you must use the dative form నాకు (to me) instead of నేను (I).
Did you know?
- The word నాకు ('to me') is derived from an ancient Proto-Dravidian root meaning 'to lick'.
- The phrase నాకు ఆకలి వేస్తోంది uses a verb that means 'to strike' or 'to apply', treating hunger like a sudden blow or a physical application of pressure.
- If you try to use the English logic of 'I am hungry' by saying నేను ఆకలిగా ఉన్నాను, you are grammatically suggesting that you 'are' a sensation of hunger itself.
Examples in context
- మధ్యాహ్నం నుండి నాకు ఆకలిగా ఉంది.madhyānham nuṇḍi nāku ākaligā undi.I have been hungry since the afternoon.
- చాలా సేపటి నుండి నాకు ఆకలిగా ఉంది.chālā sēpaṭi nuṇḍi nāku ākaligā undi.I have been hungry for a long time.
Example conversation
Kavya and Sai are walking home from school.
- కావ్య Kavyaసాయి, నాకు ఆకలిగా ఉంది.sai, naaku akaliga undi.Sai, I am hungry.
- సాయి Saiనేను కూడా ఆకలిగా ఉన్నాను.neenu kooda akaliga unnaanu.I am hungry too.
- కావ్య Kavyaఇంట్లో ఏం వంట చేశారు?intlo em vanta chesharu?What did they cook at home?
- సాయి Saiఅమ్మ బిర్యానీ చేసింది.amma biryani chesindi.Mom made biryani.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries నాకు, CC BY-SA 4.0.
