How to Say 'I Am Hungry' and 'I Am Thirsty' in Italian
Learn to express hunger and thirst in Italian with avere expressions, ask others, and use correct forms for each person.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In Italian, you do not say 'I am hungry' with the verb essere ('to be'). Instead, you use the verb avere ('to have') plus a noun: ho fame, literally 'I have hunger.' The same pattern gives ho sete ('I am thirsty'). This lesson teaches these two core expressions, how to ask other people, and how to answer yes or no naturally. It focuses on internal states, not on ordering food or drinks, so you can talk about how you feel before deciding what to do.
By the end, you can…
- say that I am hungry or thirsty in Italian.
- ask another person whether they are hungry or thirsty.
- answer yes or no to those questions and use the right verb form for io, tu, lui/lei, noi, voi, and loro.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ho fame.
I am hungry.
oh FAH-meh
Standard way to say you are hungry. Literally 'I have hunger.' Use with anyone in a neutral context.
Ho sete.
I am thirsty.
oh SEH-teh
Standard way to say you are thirsty. Literally 'I have thirst.' The noun sete is feminine, but the phrase does not change for a male or female speaker.
Hai fame?
Are you hungry?
eye FAH-meh
Informal singular question to a friend, family member, or someone your age. The question mark does not change pronunciation much, but your voice rises at the end.
Ha sete?
Are you thirsty? (formal)
ah SEH-teh
Formal singular question to a stranger, an older person, or someone you address with Lei. Context makes clear whether Ha means 'you formal' or 'he/she.'
Abbiamo fame.
We are hungry.
ahb-BYAH-moh FAH-meh
Use for a group that includes you. The verb form abbiamo is the same for 'we have' in all contexts.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern is avere + fame or avere + sete. Conjugate avere: io ho, tu hai, lui/lei ha, noi abbiamo, voi avete, loro hanno. Examples: Loro hanno fame. Voi avete sete? Note that fame and sete do not change with gender or number in this expression. You do not say 'sono fame' or 'sono sete.'
When to use it
Use ho fame and ho sete to describe your own internal state at any time. Use Hai fame? with friends and peers, and Ha fame? with people you address formally. To ask about a group, use Avete fame? or Hanno fame? These phrases are about how someone feels, not about ordering a specific dish or drink. If you want to offer something, you can add a separate question afterward.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ciao, hai fame?
Hi, are you hungry?CHOW, eye FAH-mehSì, ho fame. E tu?
Yes, I am hungry. And you?see, oh FAH-meh. eh tooAnch'io ho fame. Hai anche sete?
I am hungry too. Are you thirsty as well?ahn-KEE-oh oh FAH-meh. eye AHN-keh SEH-tehNo, non ho sete. Grazie.
No, I am not thirsty. Thanks.noh, nohn oh SEH-teh. GRAH-tsee-ehA little context goes a long way
Italians often use ho fame and ho sete in everyday conversation, and it is normal to ask a guest Hai fame? or Ha sete? soon after they arrive. The formal Ha may sound distant between friends, while the informal Hai can sound too casual with a stranger or someone much older. In some southern regions you may hear more emphatic expressions such as 'sto morendo di fame' ('I'm dying of hunger'), but the standard neutral form remains ho fame.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Sono fame' or 'Sono sete' because English uses 'I am.'
Try this instead: Use avere, not essere: Ho fame and Ho sete. Say 'Sono affamato' only if you mean 'I am starving' in a stronger, more emphatic way, and note that it changes with gender: affamato (m.) / affamata (f.).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I am thirsty' in standard Italian?
Show a sample answer
Ho sete.
Italian uses avere + sete, not essere + adjective. Ho fame follows the same pattern for hunger.
2How would you ask a friend informally if they are hungry?
Show a sample answer
Hai fame?
Hai is the tu form of avere. For a formal situation, use Ha fame? instead.
3Complete the sentence for 'They are hungry': Loro ___ fame.
Show a sample answer
Loro hanno fame.
Hanno is the loro form of avere. The noun fame stays the same; it does not become plural.
Use avere, not essere: ho fame, ho sete. Ask Hai fame? informally and Ha fame? formally, and keep fame and sete unchanged for all people.
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