Italian · Food & Drink
"I'm hungry" in Italian: ho fame
ho fame
I'm hungry in Italian is ho fame (oh FAH-meh). Literally I have hunger. Ho molta fame intensifies; andiamo a mangiare follows naturally.
After a hike
Ho fame—cerchiamo un panino.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ho fame
Say it
oh FAH-meh
/o ˈfa.me/
Ho fame: oh FAH-meh. Soft f. Open ah in fame.
"I'm hungry" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ho fame | I'm hungry Default. | Default. |
| ho molta fame | I'm very hungry Stronger. | Stronger. |
| sto morendo di fame | I'm starving Dramatic casual. | Dramatic casual. |
| hai fame? | are you hungry? Check-in. | Check-in. |
How to use ho fame in real life
- 1After a hike
Ho fame—cerchiamo un panino.
I'm hungry—let's find a sandwich.
Ho fame.
- 2Late lunch
Scusa il ritardo: ho fame da mezzogiorno.
Sorry I'm late: I've been hungry since noon.
Duration.
- 3Kids in the car
Mamma, ho fame!
Mom, I'm hungry!
Direct ask.
Mistakes English speakers make with ho fame
Incorrect: Sono fame.
Correct: Ho fame.
Use avere: ho fame, not sono.
Incorrect: Ho la fame.
Correct: Ho fame.
No article in the set phrase.
Good to know
Meal times run later in Italy, so ho fame at 6 p.m. may still wait for cena. Friends answer with andiamo a fare uno spuntino. Pair with ho sete when both hit after travel.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing when to eat after a museum
ChatPal
Hai fame o aspettiamo?
Are you hungry or shall we wait?
You
Ho fame adesso, davvero.
I'm hungry now, really.
ChatPal
Allora entriamo lì—anch'io ho fame.
Then let's go in there—I'm hungry too.
You
Perfetto.
Perfect.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"I'm hungry" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "I'm hungry" in Italian
How do I say I'm hungry?
Ho fame.
Very hungry?
Ho molta fame.
Why not sono?
Italian uses avere: ho fame.
Are you hungry?
Hai fame?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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