Expressing hunger is a basic need in any language! French offers many colorful ways to say “I’m hungry” from polite expressions to dramatic slang. This guide will help you choose the right expression for any situation.
Expressions by Formality Level
Formal/Polite
1. J’aimerais manger quelque chose
Pronunciation: /ʒɛmʁɛ mɑ̃ʒe kɛlkə ʃoz/ (zhay-muh-ray mahn-zhay kel-kuh shohz)
- Very polite way to express hunger
- Means “I would like to eat something”
- Example situation: Speaking to colleagues or in professional settings
2. Je commence à avoir faim
Pronunciation: /ʒə kɔmɑ̃s a avwaʁ fɛ̃/ (zhuh ko-mahnss ah av-war fan)
- Polite, gradual way to express hunger
- Means “I’m starting to get hungry”
- Example situation: Subtle hint during meetings or formal gatherings
Standard/Everyday
3. J’ai faim
Pronunciation: /ʒe fɛ̃/ (zhay fan)
- The classic, universal expression
- Appropriate in virtually all contexts
- Example: “J’ai faim, on va manger ?” (I’m hungry, shall we eat?)
4. Je suis affamé(e)
Pronunciation: /ʒə sɥi afame/ (zhuh swee ah-fah-may)
- More intense than “j’ai faim”
- Means “I’m famished” or “starving”
- Example: “Je suis affamée, je n’ai rien mangé depuis ce matin !” (I’m starving, I haven’t eaten since this morning!)
Casual/Expressive
5. Je crève de faim
Pronunciation: /ʒə kʁɛv də fɛ̃/ (zhuh krev duh fan)
- Dramatic expression meaning “I’m dying of hunger”
- Common in everyday conversation
- Example: “Je crève de faim ! On commande une pizza ?” (I’m starving! Should we order pizza?)
6. J’ai un petit creux
Pronunciation: /ʒe œ̃ pəti kʁø/ (zhay uhn puh-tee kruh)
- Gentle way to say you’re a bit hungry
- Means “I have a little hollow” (in my stomach)
- Example: “J’ai un petit creux, tu veux un en-cas ?” (I’m a bit peckish, do you want a snack?)
Very Informal/Slang
7. J’ai la dalle
Pronunciation: /ʒe la dal/ (zhay lah dal)
- Very casual slang expression
- Popular among younger people
- Example: “J’ai la dalle ! On va où manger ?” (I’m starving! Where are we going to eat?)
8. J’ai les crocs
Pronunciation: /ʒe le kʁɔk/ (zhay lay krok)
- Informal, literally means “I have the fangs”
- Suggests being very hungry like a wild animal
- Example: “J’ai les crocs, j’avalerais n’importe quoi !” (I’m so hungry, I’d eat anything!)
9. Mon ventre crie famine
Pronunciation: /mɔ̃ vɑ̃tʁ kʁi famin/ (mon vahn-truh kree fah-meen)
- Poetic/dramatic expression
- Literally “My stomach is crying famine”
- Example: “Mon ventre crie famine depuis des heures !” (My stomach has been crying famine for hours!)
Additional Expressions
- J’ai l’estomac dans les talons – “My stomach is in my heels” (very hungry)
- Je meurs de faim – “I’m dying of hunger”
- J’ai une faim de loup – “I have the hunger of a wolf”
- Mon estomac gargouille – “My stomach is rumbling”
- J’ai besoin de me sustenter – Formal: “I need to sustain myself”
- Ça creuse ! – “It makes you hungry!” (after exercise/work)
- J’ai la fringale – “I have the munchies”
Gender Agreement
Remember to adjust for gender:
- Masculine: “Je suis affamé”
- Feminine: “Je suis affamée”
Remember: “J’ai faim” is your safest bet for any situation, but don’t be afraid to use more colorful expressions once you’re comfortable with them!
