Signification
Stating that you need food (masculine).
Contexte culturel
The 'Obedové menu' is a cultural institution. If you say 'Som hladný' at 11:30 AM, everyone knows you're heading for the daily special. In villages, hunger is often met with 'slanina' (bacon) and 'chlieb' (bread). It's the ultimate quick fix for a hungry man. A grandmother will never believe you if you say 'Nie som hladný'. She will feed you anyway. Commentators use 'hladný po víťazstve' to describe the national ice hockey team's drive.
The Gender Rule
Always check your gender! If you're a man, it's -ý. If you're a woman, it's -á. This is the #1 mistake for beginners.
Don't say 'Som hlad'
This means 'I am hunger'. It sounds like you are a conceptual entity from a fantasy novel.
Signification
Stating that you need food (masculine).
The Gender Rule
Always check your gender! If you're a man, it's -ý. If you're a woman, it's -á. This is the #1 mistake for beginners.
Don't say 'Som hlad'
This means 'I am hunger'. It sounds like you are a conceptual entity from a fantasy novel.
Use 'Mám hlad' for variety
Native speakers use 'Mám hlad' very frequently. Switching between the two makes you sound more natural.
The 'Wolf' Idiom
If you are really starving, say 'Som hladný ako vlk'. It's the most common Slovak idiom for extreme hunger.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct form for a male speaker.
Peter hovorí: '_______.'
Peter is a male name, so he must use the masculine ending '-ý'.
Fill in the missing verb 'to be' in the correct form.
My _______ hladní.
'My' (we) requires the first-person plural form 'sme'.
Match the phrase to the intensity.
Which phrase means 'I am extremely hungry'?
'Vyhladovaný' implies a state of being famished or starved.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Si hladný? B: Áno, _______.
'Mám hlad' is a correct alternative to 'Som hladný'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Gender Agreement for 'Hungry'
Ways to say 'I'm hungry'
Standard
- • Som hladný
- • Mám hlad
Extreme
- • Som vyhladovaný
- • Som hladný ako vlk
Light
- • Niečo by som zjedol
- • Mám malý hlad
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesPeter hovorí: '_______.'
Peter is a male name, so he must use the masculine ending '-ý'.
My _______ hladní.
'My' (we) requires the first-person plural form 'sme'.
Which phrase means 'I am extremely hungry'?
'Vyhladovaný' implies a state of being famished or starved.
A: Si hladný? B: Áno, _______.
'Mám hlad' is a correct alternative to 'Som hladný'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, but usually to your friends. To the waiter, it's better to say 'Dám si...' (I'll have...).
Grammatically, one is 'I am hungry' and the other is 'I have hunger'. In practice, they are interchangeable, though 'Mám hlad' is slightly more common in casual speech.
You can say 'Som veľmi hladný' or 'Som strašne hladný'.
Yes, you can say 'Pes je hladný' (The dog is hungry).
You say 'Už nie som hladný' or 'Som sýty'.
No, for thirst you must use 'smädný'. 'Som smädný' means 'I am thirsty'.
For a group of men or a mixed group, say 'Sme hladní'. For a group of only women, say 'Sme hladné'.
Not at all! In Slovakia, it's often seen as a compliment to the host's potential cooking.
You can write 'Som hladny', but the 'y' should be long in proper spelling.
A common slangy way to say you are hungry is 'Kedy budeme žrať?' (When are we going to chow down?), but use this only with very close friends.
Expressions liées
Mám hlad
synonymI have hunger
Som sýty
contrastI am full/satisfied
Dobrú chuť
builds onBon appétit
Vyhladlo mi
similarI've become hungry
Pôst
specialized formFasting
