Meaning
Used to express the feeling of hunger.
Cultural Background
Iranians rarely say they are hungry the first time they are asked by a host due to Ta'arof. A host must offer food multiple times before a guest might admit to being 'kami gorosne' (a little hungry). In the fast-paced life of Tehran, people are more direct. 'Goshname' is used frequently among friends to decide where to eat out, often leading to a debate between 'Kabab' or 'Fast Food'. During Ramadan, the phrase 'Man gorosne-am' is almost a shared identity during the day. However, complaining about hunger while fasting is sometimes seen as reducing the spiritual merit of the fast. In villages, if you say you are hungry, you won't just get a snack; you will likely be served a full meal with fresh bread, cheese, and tea immediately. Hunger is treated as a serious matter of hospitality.
Sound like a local
Use 'Goshname' instead of 'Man gorosne-am'. It's much more natural in 99% of conversations.
Don't say 'Daram'
Never say 'Gorosne daram'. It's a classic mistake for English/Spanish speakers.
Meaning
Used to express the feeling of hunger.
Sound like a local
Use 'Goshname' instead of 'Man gorosne-am'. It's much more natural in 99% of conversations.
Don't say 'Daram'
Never say 'Gorosne daram'. It's a classic mistake for English/Spanish speakers.
The Ta'arof Rule
If an Iranian asks if you are hungry, they probably want to feed you. Saying 'yes' is a compliment to their hospitality!
The '-am' suffix
This suffix is your best friend. It works for 'khaste-am' (I'm tired) and 'teshne-am' (I'm thirsty) too.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'to be' for 'I'.
من خیلی گرسنه ___.
The suffix '-am' is the short form of 'hastam' (I am).
Which one is the most common informal way to say 'I'm hungry'?
How do you say 'I'm hungry' to a friend?
'Goshname' is the standard colloquial form used in daily life.
Match the Persian phrase with its English translation.
Match the following:
Matching the subject pronouns and their corresponding verb endings.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ناهار میخوری؟ (Do you want lunch?) B: بله، خیلی ____.
If someone asks if you want lunch, 'Goshname' (I'm hungry) is the logical response.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Formal vs. Informal Hunger
Related Needs
Food
- • گرسنه (Hungry)
- • سیر (Full)
Drink
- • تشنه (Thirsty)
- • سیراب (Hydrated)
Practice Bank
4 exercisesمن خیلی گرسنه ___.
The suffix '-am' is the short form of 'hastam' (I am).
How do you say 'I'm hungry' to a friend?
'Goshname' is the standard colloquial form used in daily life.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Matching the subject pronouns and their corresponding verb endings.
A: ناهار میخوری؟ (Do you want lunch?) B: بله، خیلی ____.
If someone asks if you want lunch, 'Goshname' (I'm hungry) is the logical response.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt is neutral/standard. The informal version is 'Goshne'.
Yes, 'Sag gorosne ast' (The dog is hungry) is perfectly correct.
Add 'kheyli' before the adjective: 'Man kheyli gorosne-am'.
'Gorosne-am' is standard; 'Goshname' is colloquial and more common in speech.
Say 'Gorosne-i?' or 'Goshnete?' with a rising intonation.
No, but usually you wait for them to ask you first as part of Ta'arof.
The opposite is 'Sir' (سیر), meaning full.
Yes, metaphorically for power, success, or knowledge.
It's a middle ground between the very formal 'Gorosne' and the very informal 'Goshname'.
Say 'Gorosne nistam'.
People often say 'Daram az goshnegi ghash mikonam' (I'm fainting from hunger).
No, Persian has no grammatical gender. It's the same for everyone!
Related Phrases
سیرم
contrastI am full
تشنهام
similarI am thirsty
اشتها دارم
specialized formI have an appetite
ضعف دارم
builds onI feel faint/weak
شکمو
relatedGlutton / Foodie
