Bedeutung
To be extremely hungry
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'oběd' (lunch) is the most important meal. If you miss it, saying 'mám hlad jako vlk' is a socially accepted way to explain your grumpiness. Slovak uses the exact same idiom: 'Mám hlad ako vlk'. The cultural context of mountain hiking and hearty meals is identical. In many Slavic cultures, the wolf is a symbol of both fear and respect. Using it in an idiom shows a connection to the wild nature of the region. Even in cities like Prague, where people eat international food, this idiom remains the standard way to express extreme hunger.
Use it to be polite
If someone offers you a second helping of food, saying 'Mám hlad jako vlk' is a great compliment to the cook.
Don't say 'Jsem hladový'
While grammatically correct, it sounds very textbook. 'Mám hlad' is much more natural.
Bedeutung
To be extremely hungry
Use it to be polite
If someone offers you a second helping of food, saying 'Mám hlad jako vlk' is a great compliment to the cook.
Don't say 'Jsem hladový'
While grammatically correct, it sounds very textbook. 'Mám hlad' is much more natural.
The syllabic 'L'
Practice the word 'vlk'. There is no 'u' or 'e' sound. It's just v-l-k. The 'l' is the heart of the syllable.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'mít'.
Já ______ hlad jako vlk.
The subject is 'Já' (I), so the verb must be 'mám'.
Which animal is used in this Czech idiom for hunger?
Mám hlad jako...
The standard Czech idiom is 'hlad jako vlk'.
Match the Czech phrase with its English meaning.
Match the pairs:
These are all common ways to express hunger in Czech.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: Chceš jablko? B: Ne, to je málo. ___________, chci pořádný oběd!
The speaker wants a 'proper lunch', so they are very hungry.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenJá ______ hlad jako vlk.
The subject is 'Já' (I), so the verb must be 'mám'.
Mám hlad jako...
The standard Czech idiom is 'hlad jako vlk'.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are all common ways to express hunger in Czech.
A: Chceš jablko? B: Ne, to je málo. ___________, chci pořádný oběd!
The speaker wants a 'proper lunch', so they are very hungry.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes! Even though 'vlk' is masculine, the idiom 'mám hlad jako vlk' is used by everyone regardless of gender.
Not at all. It's informal and friendly. It shows you are enthusiastic about eating.
You can, but it's very rare and sounds like you are trying to be poetic or funny. Stick to 'vlk'.
Just say 'Mám malý hlad' or 'Mám na něco malého chuť'.
No, for thirst we use 'mám žízeň jako trám'.
In this specific idiom, yes. 'Jako vlk' stays the same.
Yes, it's a very standard idiom found in both literature and everyday speech.
With colleagues during a lunch break, yes. During a presentation to your boss, probably not.
Technically 'Máme hlad jako vlci', but people often just say 'Máme hlad jako vlk' treating it as a fixed phrase.
Because wolves are famous for eating a lot very quickly after a long hunt.
Verwandte Redewendungen
mít vlčí hlad
similarTo have wolfish hunger
mít hlad, že bych snědl koně
synonymTo be so hungry I could eat a horse
být sytý
contrastTo be full/satiated
mít na něco chuť
builds onTo have a craving for something
