Significado
Being extremely hungry.
Contexto cultural
The Dutch are known for their 'broodcultuur' (bread culture). Lunch is often just a sandwich. If someone says they have 'honger als een paard', they might be looking for a 'warme maaltijd' (warm meal) instead of just more bread. In Flanders, the phrase is also widely used, but you might also hear 'honger als een wolf' more frequently than in the northern Netherlands due to closer cultural ties with France. While Dutch is the official language, local idioms often mix with Sranan Tongo or Papiamento. However, 'honger als een paard' remains a recognized and used expression in formal education and media. In farming communities, this idiom is taken quite literally in spirit. The horse is still a symbol of strength and hard work, and having a 'horse's hunger' is seen as a sign of a healthy, hard-working person.
Use it for emphasis
Don't use this for every meal. Save it for when you are genuinely very hungry to make it more effective.
Verb choice
Remember: 'Ik HEB honger', never 'Ik BEN honger'. This is the #1 mistake for beginners.
Significado
Being extremely hungry.
Use it for emphasis
Don't use this for every meal. Save it for when you are genuinely very hungry to make it more effective.
Verb choice
Remember: 'Ik HEB honger', never 'Ik BEN honger'. This is the #1 mistake for beginners.
Compliment the chef
Saying 'Ik heb honger als een paard' when someone serves you food is a great way to show you're excited to eat their cooking.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing verb and animal to complete the idiom.
Ik ___ honger als een ___.
In Dutch, we use the verb 'hebben' (to have) and the animal 'paard' (horse) for this idiom.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say you are starving in a casual setting?
A) Ik heb een beetje trek. B) Ik heb honger als een paard. C) Ik ben een paard met honger. D) Ik heb honger als een vogel.
Option B is the standard Dutch idiom for being very hungry.
Complete the dialogue.
Sanne: 'Wil je nog een pannenkoek?' Tom: 'Ja, graag! Ik heb ______.'
Tom is accepting more food, so he is expressing his extreme hunger.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate situation.
Phrase: 'Ik heb honger als een paard.'
This idiom is informal and used when you are genuinely very hungry due to effort.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
When to use 'Honger als een paard'
Social
- • With friends
- • With family
- • At a BBQ
Physical
- • After gym
- • After hiking
- • After cycling
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosIk ___ honger als een ___.
In Dutch, we use the verb 'hebben' (to have) and the animal 'paard' (horse) for this idiom.
A) Ik heb een beetje trek. B) Ik heb honger als een paard. C) Ik ben een paard met honger. D) Ik heb honger als een vogel.
Option B is the standard Dutch idiom for being very hungry.
Sanne: 'Wil je nog een pannenkoek?' Tom: 'Ja, graag! Ik heb ______.'
Tom is accepting more food, so he is expressing his extreme hunger.
Phrase: 'Ik heb honger als een paard.'
This idiom is informal and used when you are genuinely very hungry due to effort.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, it's not rude, but it is informal. It's perfectly fine with friends and family.
No, that's not a standard idiom. People will understand you, but it will sound strange.
'Honger' is real hunger (need for food), while 'trek' is more like an appetite or a craving.
No, 'een' is the indefinite article and never changes based on the gender of the speaker.
Yes: 'Ik had honger als een paard' (I was as hungry as a horse).
Yes, especially in a casual restaurant like a pizzeria or a pancake house.
Dutch culture is historically agricultural, and horses were the most visible large animals with big appetites.
They are both very common. 'Rammelen' is slightly more descriptive of the stomach feeling.
No, for thirst we say 'dorst als een tempelier' or just 'enorme dorst'.
Yes, it's very common in texts! You can even use a horse emoji 🐎.
Frases relacionadas
Rammelen van de honger
synonymTo be so hungry your stomach 'rattles'.
Berenhonger
similarBear-hunger.
Trek hebben
contrastTo have an appetite / to be slightly hungry.
Zichzelf overeten
builds onTo overeat.
