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A direct question to ask someone if they want food.
Contexte culturel
The 'Rule of Three': When a host asks 'Máš hlad?', they might ask up to three times even if you say no. It's considered polite to eventually accept at least a small snack. Lunch is the main meal of the day. Asking 'Máš hlad?' around 12:00 PM is almost always an invitation for a two-course meal (soup and main dish). Hospitality is tied to the 'Bread and Salt' tradition. While 'Máš hlad?' is modern, it carries the same spirit of welcoming a guest. In rural areas, 'Máš hlad?' might be followed by an offer of 'slanina' (bacon) and 'chlieb' (bread), the traditional fuel for hard work.
The 'Have' Rule
Always remember that in Slovak, you 'have' hunger, thirst, and even age. It's a different logic than English!
Watch the 'H'
Make sure to pronounce the 'h' in 'hlad' clearly. If it sounds like 'ch', people might think you're talking about the cold.
Signification
A direct question to ask someone if they want food.
The 'Have' Rule
Always remember that in Slovak, you 'have' hunger, thirst, and even age. It's a different logic than English!
Watch the 'H'
Make sure to pronounce the 'h' in 'hlad' clearly. If it sounds like 'ch', people might think you're talking about the cold.
Add 'už'
Adding 'už' (already) makes you sound more native: 'Máš už hlad?' (Are you hungry yet?)
Accepting Food
If someone asks 'Máš hlad?' and offers food, it's a great way to bond. Even a small 'áno' goes a long way.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct informal way to ask 'Are you hungry?'
_______ hlad?
'Máš' is the informal 2nd person singular of 'mať' (to have).
Fill in the missing word to say 'I am hungry.'
Ja _______ hlad.
'Mám' is the 1st person singular form of 'mať'.
Match the Slovak phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the basic conjugations for hunger.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ahoj, Peter! _______ hlad? B: Áno, poďme jesť.
Peter is a friend, so we use the informal 'máš'.
Which phrase is best for a formal business lunch?
You are with your boss.
'Máte' is the formal version required for a boss.
🎉 Score : /5
Aides visuelles
English vs Slovak Logic
Common Food Responses
Yes
- • Áno, mám.
- • Trochu.
- • Veľmi!
No
- • Nie, nemám.
- • Som plný.
- • Neskôr.
Banque d exercices
5 exercices_______ hlad?
'Máš' is the informal 2nd person singular of 'mať' (to have).
Ja _______ hlad.
'Mám' is the 1st person singular form of 'mať'.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the basic conjugations for hunger.
A: Ahoj, Peter! _______ hlad? B: Áno, poďme jesť.
Peter is a friend, so we use the informal 'máš'.
You are with your boss.
'Máte' is the formal version required for a boss.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes, 'Som hladný' is perfectly correct and means 'I am hungry.' However, 'Mám hlad' is slightly more common in casual conversation.
No, it's very friendly! Just make sure to use 'Máte hlad?' if you're talking to someone you don't know well.
You can say 'Nie, nemám hlad, ďakujem.' (No, I don't have hunger, thank you.)
Say 'Mám malý hlad' or 'Trochu.'
Because 'hlad' is the direct object in the accusative case. For masculine inanimate nouns, the accusative is the same as the nominative.
Use the plural: 'Máte hlad?'
Young people might say 'Si vyhladovaný?' or simply 'Ideme jesť?' (Are we going to eat?)
No, 'hlad' specifically means the physical sensation of hunger.
You can say 'Zomieram od hladu' (I'm dying of hunger) for dramatic effect.
Yes, exactly the same: 'Máš hlad?'
'Hlad' is the need for food; 'chuť' is the desire or 'taste' for something specific.
Yes, you can ask your dog 'Máš hlad?', though he might not answer in Slovak!
Expressions liées
Máš smäd?
similarAre you thirsty?
Dobrú chuť!
builds onEnjoy your meal!
Som plný
contrastI am full
Mám chuť na...
specialized formI have a taste for...
Zomieram od hladu
specialized formI am dying of hunger
