me muero de hambre
/me mweɾo de ambɾe/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I am starving" can be translated into Spanish as me muero de hambre.
This phrase is an exaggerated way to express that you are very hungry. You can also use Tengo muchísima hambre to say you are extremely hungry.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me muero de hambre literally translates to "I die of hunger."
Which one should you use?
You may also encounter the informal form Estoy muriéndome de hambre to convey the same idea.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The expression Tengo un hambre que no veas is an informal expression used in Spain to mean "I am so hungry you can't even imagine."
How do you pronounce it?
/me mweɾo de ambɾe/
Did you know?
- The word hambre is a close relative of the Portuguese word fome and the French word faim. All these Romance languages preserved the 'f' sound from the original Latin root, except for Spanish.
- Spanish speakers frequently use the verb morirse ('to die') to amplify various emotions beyond just hunger. You can be muerto de risa (dying of laughter) or muerto de sueño (dying of sleepiness).
- While English speakers say 'I am hungry', Spanish speakers say Tengo hambre, which translates to 'I have hunger'. This grammatical difference means hunger is treated as a possession rather than a state of being.
Examples in context
- Sin un bocadillo, me muero de hambre.Without a snack, I am starving.
- ¡Date prisa, que me muero de hambre!Hurry up, I am starving!
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to eat for dinner at home.
- LucíaJavier, ¿qué vamos a cenar?Javier, what are we having for dinner?
- JavierNo lo sé, Lucía, pero me muero de hambre.I don't know, Lucía, but I am starving.
- LucíaPodemos pedir una pizza ahora mismo.We can order a pizza right now.
- Javier¡Perfecto, es una excelente idea!Perfect, that is an excellent idea!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, hambre, me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
