What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "I had hunger". This is because Spanish uses the verb tener (to have) rather than ser or estar (to be) to express physical sensations such as hunger.
Which one should you use?
tenía hambre describes a continuous state in the past. In contrast, tuve hambre (using the preterite tense) would imply a specific, completed moment or a sudden onset of hunger, such as "I got hungry".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the expression Estaba muriéndome de hambre can be used to informally express hunger.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form tenía hambre uses the imperfect tense of tener. This tense is used here to describe a continuous state or a background condition in the past.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using estaba hambriento or estaba con hambre. Although these are direct translations of "I was hungry" or similar structures, they are not the natural way to express this in Spanish. Use tenía hambre instead.
Did you know?
- Even though hambre is a feminine noun, you will almost always see it preceded by the masculine article el hambre when it is singular. This is a special rule used to prevent the two 'a' sounds from clashing, which would make the phrase harder to say.
- Spanish speakers often use animal imagery to describe hunger, such as the idiom tener un hambre de lobo. This translates to 'to have the hunger of a wolf' and is a common way to say you are starving.
- The word hambre is a close relative of the English word 'famine', as both stem from the same Latin root describing a lack of food.
Examples in context
- Tenía hambre y sed.I was hungry and thirsty.This sentence shows how to combine hunger with another physical sensation like thirst using tenía hambre.Tatoeba #473471 by Shishir, translation #475748 by darinmex
- Dije que tenía hambre.I said I was hungry.This sentence demonstrates using tenía hambre within a reported speech context.Tatoeba #4588726 by Shishir, translation #2647681 by CK
- Tenía hambre, así que comí.I was hungry, so I ate.This sentence shows how to use tenía hambre to explain a subsequent action like eating.Tatoeba #4610765 by DarkHollow, translation #4609687 by CK
- Ayer estaba hambriento/a y tuve que comer antes de ir a la reunión.Yesterday I was hungry and had to eat before going to the meeting.
- Me moría de hambre, así que pedí una pizza gigante.I was so hungry that I ordered a giant pizza.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are talking about their lunch yesterday.
- DanielAyer no almorcé y tenía hambre.Yesterday I didn't have lunch and I was hungry.
- Elena¿Y por eso compraste un sándwich?And is that why you bought a sandwich?
- DanielSí, tenía hambre a mediodía.Yes, I was hungry at midday.
- ElenaEs comprensible, Daniel.It is understandable, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hambre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
