Bedeutung
I am extremely hungry.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Turkey, complaining about hunger is not seen as rude; it's often a way to bond. If you say your 'belly is ringing bells,' expect to be offered food immediately. During Ramadan, this phrase is used to describe the feeling before the evening prayer (Akşam ezanı). It's a shared cultural experience of waiting for İftar. Turkish hosts take pride in feeding guests. Using this idiom is a sign that you are comfortable with the host and ready to enjoy their cooking. Turkish university students often use this phrase to describe their constant state of hunger due to long study sessions and limited budgets.
Use for Emphasis
Don't use this for mild hunger. Save it for when you are genuinely ready to eat a large meal.
Vowel Drop Rule
Always remember to drop the 'ı' in 'karın'. Saying 'Karınım' is the most common learner mistake.
Bedeutung
I am extremely hungry.
Use for Emphasis
Don't use this for mild hunger. Save it for when you are genuinely ready to eat a large meal.
Vowel Drop Rule
Always remember to drop the 'ı' in 'karın'. Saying 'Karınım' is the most common learner mistake.
Social Hinting
In Turkey, if you want to politely suggest ending a meeting or a walk to go eat, this is the perfect 'soft' way to do it.
Compliment the Cook
Saying this while someone is cooking is a great way to show you are excited for their food.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Sabahtan beri hiçbir şey yemedim, karnım ___ çalıyor.
The idiom is 'karnı zil çalmak'. 'Zil' means bell.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct form of the idiom:
The word 'karın' drops the 'ı' (karnım) and the verb must be 'çalmak'.
Match the situation to the best response.
You are at a restaurant and the food is taking a long time. You say to your friend:
This is the perfect informal way to express hunger while waiting.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Anne, yemek hazır mı? B: Beş dakika sonra hazır. A: Çabuk ol lütfen, ___.
The child is asking for food because they are very hungry.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenSabahtan beri hiçbir şey yemedim, karnım ___ çalıyor.
The idiom is 'karnı zil çalmak'. 'Zil' means bell.
Choose the correct form of the idiom:
The word 'karın' drops the 'ı' (karnım) and the verb must be 'çalmak'.
You are at a restaurant and the food is taking a long time. You say to your friend:
This is the perfect informal way to express hunger while waiting.
A: Anne, yemek hazır mı? B: Beş dakika sonra hazır. A: Çabuk ol lütfen, ___.
The child is asking for food because they are very hungry.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenOnly if you have a very close, informal relationship. Otherwise, stick to 'Acıktım' (I got hungry).
It is always 'Karnım' for this idiom. 'Midem zil çalıyor' is incorrect.
No, it's a metaphor for the sound of a growling stomach.
Yes! 'Karnım zil çalıyordu' (I was starving).
No, it is strictly colloquial and informal.
Karnımız zil çalıyor (Our bellies are ringing).
Yes, 'Oldukça acıktım' (I've become quite hungry) is more neutral.
Because the rumbling sound of hunger is compared to a ringing bell signaling mealtime.
Yes, it's very common for children to say this to their parents.
Yes, it is a universal Turkish idiom.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Kurt gibi aç olmak
synonymTo be hungry like a wolf.
Midesi kazınmak
similarTo have a gnawing feeling in the stomach.
Açlıktan nefesi kokmak
specialized formTo be so hungry one's breath smells.
Bir lokma bile yemedim
builds onI haven't eaten even a single bite.
