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tengo hambre

verbBeginner

What does “tengo hambre” mean in English?

  1. I am hungry

Example sentences

  • Tengo hambre.

    I'm hungry.

  • Tengo mucha hambre.

    I'm very hungry.

  • Si tienes hambre, come algo.

    If you're hungry, eat something.

How to use it

Tengo hambre means 'I'm hungry' (lit. 'I have hunger'). Tener + hambre. Spanish uses TENER for sensations and states English uses 'be' for.

Common mistake

Don't say 'soy hambriento' or 'estoy hambriento' for ordinary hunger — always 'TENGO hambre'. Use mucha (fem.) hambre for intensity.

Topics

Related Beginner words

Reference

This entry’s teaching guidance follows A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish (Butt, Benjamin & Moreira Rodríguez, Routledge), 13.