Spanish
Grade 9
15 min
Tengo hambre (I'm hungry)
Learn to express hunger and thirst.
What you'll learn
- Identify at least 3 Spanish words for common foods (e.g., manzana, pan, agua) when shown a picture.
- Say "Tengo hambre" (I'm hungry) when asked how they are feeling, with correct pronunciation at least 2 out of 3 times.
- Match pictures of 4 different foods to their correct Spanish word card.
- Respond to the question "¿Qué quieres comer?" (What do you want to eat?) by naming one food in Spanish from a provided word bank.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Correctly use the 'tener + [noun]' construction to express hunger and other physical states.
Differentiate between varying degrees of hunger using idiomatic expressions like 'morirse de hambre'.
Construct complex sentences explaining why they are hungry using conjunctions like 'porque' and 'ya que'.
Apply the present subjunctive mood to express desires and recommendations related to food (e.g., 'Quiero que comamos pizza').
Use the verbs 'apetecer' and 'antojarse' to express specific food cravings.
Formulate questions to ask others if they are hungry and what they would like to eat.
Your stomach is rumbling loudly during class... estómago! How do you express that you're not just hu...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Tener + [noun] ExpressionsIn Spanish, many physical states and feelings that use 'to be' in English are expressed with the verb 'tener' (to have) followed by a noun.Tengo hambre (I have hunger) -> I'm hungry. Tengo sed (I have thirst) -> I'm thirsty. Tengo sueño (I have sleepiness) -> I'm sleepy.
Morirse de hambreAn idiomatic, reflexive expression used to exaggerate hunger. It literally means 'to die of hunger'.No he comido en todo el día. ¡Me muero de hambre! (I haven't eaten all day. I'm starving!)
ApetecerA verb similar to 'gustar' used to express what you feel like having or doing. It uses indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les).¿Qué te apetece comer? - Me apetece una ensalada....
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Grammar Rules & Patterns
The 'Tener' Expression Formula
Subject + Conjugated 'tener' + Noun (hambre, sed, sueño, etc.)
Use this formula to express common physical states. Remember to conjugate 'tener' (tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, tienen) to match the subject. This is a fixed structure; do not use 'ser' or 'estar'.
Subjunctive with Verbs of Will/Influence (WEIRDO)
Main Clause (Verb of Will) + 'que' + Subordinate Clause (Different Subject + Subjunctive Verb)
When you express a wish, desire, or suggestion for *another person* or group to do something, you must use the subjunctive mood in the second clause. For example, 'Yo quiero que tú comas' (I want you to eat).
Structure for 'Apetecer' and 'Antojarse&...
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Challenging
Read the dialogue and fill in the blanks: Carlos: '¡Uf, me muero de hambre!' Ana: 'A mí ______ un taco. ¿Quieres que ______ al restaurante nuevo?'
A.se me antoja / vayamos
B.me apetece / vamos
C.se antoja / vamos
D.me antojo / vayamos
Challenging
Scenario: Your friend didn't eat breakfast and says, 'No aguanto más. ¡Me muero de hambre!'. What is the most appropriate and grammatically correct response to suggest you both eat immediately?
A.Tienes un poco de hambre. Comemos más tarde.
B.¡Entiendo! Insisto en que comamos algo ahora mismo.
C.Yo también. Sugiero que comemos algo pronto.
D.Tranquilo. Me apetece que comamos en una hora.
Challenging
Which of the following sentences is both grammatically correct and logically sound?
A.Ya que me muero de hambre, te recomiendo que pides la ensalada para mí.
B.Se me antojan unas galletas, pero quiero que tú no las comes.
C.Tengo muchísima hambre porque no almorcé; te sugiero que vayamos a comer ya.
D.Me apetece la sopa, así que es importante que nosotros la comimos ayer.
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Tengo hambre (I'm hungry)"?
Tengo hambre (I'm hungry) is a Grade 9 Spanish lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Tengo hambre (I'm hungry)?
You'll be able to: Identify at least 3 Spanish words for common foods (e.g., manzana, pan, agua) when shown a picture; Say "Tengo hambre" (I'm hungry) when asked how they are feeling, with correct pronunciation at least 2 out of 3 times; Match….
Is "Tengo hambre (I'm hungry)" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Tengo hambre (I'm hungry)?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.