tener hambre
Lemma Details
Translation: to be hungry; to feel hunger
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: This phrase combines 'tener' (to have) from Latin 'tenere' (to hold, keep, possess) and 'hambre' from Latin 'fames' (hunger). Spanish uses 'tener' + noun constructions for many states that English expresses with 'to be' + adjective. This reflects a conceptual difference where Spanish treats hunger as something one possesses rather than a state one is in.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Tengo mucha hambre después de hacer ejercicio.
I'm very hungry after exercising.
Los niños tienen hambre; vamos a preparar la cena.
The children are hungry; let's prepare dinner.
¿Tienes hambre? Podemos parar a comer algo.
Are you hungry? We can stop to eat something.
No tengo hambre ahora mismo.
I'm not hungry right now.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'hambre' as sounding a bit like 'hungry' with an accent.
- Remember that in Spanish you 'have hunger' rather than 'are hungry'.
- The word 'hambre' can remind you of 'hamburger', which you might want when hungry.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This is one of the most basic physiological expressions in Spanish. Understanding this construction is key to mastering many other state expressions in Spanish that follow the pattern 'tener' + noun, such as 'tener sed' (to be thirsty), 'tener sueño' (to be sleepy), and 'tener miedo' (to be afraid).
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'tener hambre' means 'to be hungry', 'tener sed' means 'to be thirsty'. Both follow the same grammatical pattern of 'tener' + noun to express a physical state.
Notes: Both expressions are essential for expressing basic needs in Spanish.
Mnemonic: 'Hambre' has an 'm' like 'meal', while 'sed' is short like 'sip'.
Explanation: 'Tener hambre' is a temporary state of being hungry right now, while 'ser hambriento' describes someone who is chronically hungry or starving as a characteristic.
Notes: 'Ser hambriento' is less common in everyday speech and more often used in formal or literary contexts.
Mnemonic: 'Tener' is temporary, 'ser' is more permanent.