я хочу есть
ya khochu yest'
The English phrase "I want food" is translated into Russian as я хочу есть (ya khochu yest').
Use я хочу есть to express the physiological sensation of hunger. While it literally translates to "I want to eat," it is the most natural way for a speaker to convey that they want food because they are hungry.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "I want to eat".
Which one should you use?
While я хочу есть (I want to eat) is the most natural way to say you are hungry, я хочу еду (I want food) sounds more like you are demanding a specific substance or object.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase я хочу есть, хочу is the first-person singular conjugation of the verb хотеть (to want) and есть is the infinitive form of the verb "to eat".
How do you pronounce it?
ya khochu yest'
Did you know?
- In Russian military slang, the word есть is used as a sharp, formal way to say 'yes sir' or 'understood'.
- The word есть in this phrase is a homograph, meaning it can be spelled exactly the same way whether it means 'to eat' or 'to be'.
- In very informal settings, Russians might omit the word я (I) and simply say хочу есть, as the verb ending already indicates who is hungry.
Examples in context
- Я хочу поесть что-нибудьI want to eat something.
- Я хочу есть, давай пойдём в кафе.Ya khochu yest', davay poydyom v kafe.I want to eat, let's go to a cafe.
- Извини, но я хочу есть прямо сейчас.Izvini, no ya khochu yest' pryamo seychas.Sorry, but I want to eat right now.
Example conversation
Andrey and Maria are walking in the park and realize it is lunchtime.
- Андрей AndreyМария, я хочу есть.Mariya, ya khochu yest'.Maria, I want to eat.
- Мария MariaЯ тоже хочу есть, Андрей.Ya tozhe khochu yest', Andrey.I want to eat too, Andrey.
- Андрей AndreyДавай купим какой-нибудь сэндвич.Davay kupim kakoy-nibud' sendvich.Let's buy some kind of sandwich.
- Мария MariaХорошая идея, пойдём к киоску.Khoroshaya ideya, poydyom k kiosku.Good idea, let's go to the kiosk.
