This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A2 adjective #7,000 most common 6 min read

faminto

Top 7,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips faminto in 30 Seconds

Explanation faminto in your Level:

At the A1 level, you usually learn 'com fome' (hungry). 'Faminto' is a step up. It's like 'very hungry'. You can use it to make your Portuguese sound more descriptive. Just remember: 'Eu estou faminto' (I am starving). Keep it simple and focus on the masculine/feminine endings.

At A2, you should start using 'faminto' to add variety to your vocabulary. Instead of always saying 'muita fome', try 'faminto'. It shows you understand how to use adjectives to describe intense states. You'll encounter it in simple stories and descriptions of animals or people in distress.

At B1, you can use 'faminto' in more complex narratives. You should be comfortable with its metaphorical uses, like being 'faminto por notícias' (hungry for news). You also start to distinguish it from synonyms like 'esfomeado' based on the context of greed versus simple need.

At the B2 level, you use 'faminto' with precision. You understand its literary value and can use it in formal writing to describe social issues (e.g., 'populações famintas'). You also recognize the nuance it brings to character descriptions in literature, suggesting a deep, almost primal need.

At C1, 'faminto' is part of your rich vocabulary set. You can use it to create specific tones in your writing—from the dramatic to the empathetic. You understand its etymological roots and how it relates to other 'fome' derivatives, using it effortlessly in high-level discussions about sociology or literature.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'faminto'. You can use it in subtle, ironic, or highly metaphorical ways. You understand the historical weight of the word in Portuguese literature (like in the works of Graciliano Ramos) and can discuss its connotations in various dialects and historical periods.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

faminto in 30 Seconds

Faminto means 'starving' or 'extremely hungry'.
It is an adjective that changes with gender: faminto/faminta.
It is more intense and descriptive than 'com fome'.
It is often used in stories, news, and metaphorical contexts.

The Portuguese word faminto is a powerful adjective used to describe a state of extreme hunger. While the common phrase com fome (with hunger) is used for everyday appetites, faminto elevates the sensation to something more intense, akin to being 'famished' or 'starving' in English. It is derived from the noun fome, which means hunger, and the suffix -into, which often denotes a state of being full of or characterized by something. When you use this word, you are communicating that your need for food is urgent and significant.

Grammatical Gender: As an adjective, it must agree with the noun it modifies: faminto (masculine singular), faminta (feminine singular), famintos (masculine plural), and famintas (feminine plural).
Register and Usage: It is commonly used in literature, storytelling (like fables), and dramatic everyday speech to emphasize a physical need. It is slightly more formal or descriptive than the colloquial expression morto de fome (dying of hunger).

Depois de caminhar por dez horas na floresta, o explorador estava faminto e exausto.

In metaphorical contexts, faminto can also describe a strong desire for something other than food, such as faminto por poder (hungry for power) or faminto por conhecimento (hungry for knowledge). This versatility makes it an essential word for reaching an intermediate level of Portuguese fluency. Understanding the nuance between 'ter fome' and 'estar faminto' is key. 'Ter fome' is a biological fact; 'estar faminto' is a vivid description of a state.

O leão faminto rugiu alto na savana.

Common Collocation: 'Lobo faminto' (hungry wolf) is a very common idiomatic and literary pairing used to describe someone greedy or predatory.

Using faminto correctly requires attention to the verb it pairs with. Most often, it is used with the verb estar (to be - temporary state) because hunger is generally a transient condition. For example, Eu estou faminto means 'I am starving right now'. Using ser would imply that being starving is a permanent personality trait, which is logically rare unless used in a very specific metaphorical sense.

As crianças chegaram da escola famintas e comeram tudo.

Agreement Rules: If you are a woman, you say: 'Estou faminta'. If you are talking about a group of women, use famintas. For a mixed group or a group of men, use famintos.

In more complex sentence structures, faminto can be modified by adverbs to provide even more detail. You might say someone is absolutamente faminto (absolutely starving) or visivelmente faminto (visibly starving). These combinations help build a clearer picture in the listener's mind, especially in narrative contexts.

O mendigo faminto aceitou o pão com gratidão.

When describing animals, faminto is the standard term used in documentaries and biology books. It conveys a sense of wild necessity. For example, 'O tubarão faminto circulava a presa'. Here, the word adds a layer of danger and natural instinct that 'com fome' lacks.

You will encounter faminto in a variety of settings, ranging from classical literature to modern journalism. It is a staple in fairy tales (contos de fadas) where wolves, ogres, and poor orphans are frequently described as being in this state. If you read 'Chapeuzinho Vermelho' (Little Red Riding Hood) in Portuguese, the wolf is almost certainly described as faminto.

Na fábula, o lobo faminto tenta enganar a ovelha.

In the news, faminto is often used in reports about humanitarian crises, droughts, or social inequality. Headlines might refer to populações famintas (starving populations) to evoke empathy and highlight the severity of a situation. In these contexts, the word carries a heavy social and emotional weight, moving beyond simple appetite to the tragedy of food insecurity.

News Context: 'A seca deixou milhares de animais famintos no sertão.'

In movies and TV shows, particularly period dramas or survival stories, characters will use faminto to express their desperation. If a character has been stranded on a desert island, they won't just say they are 'com fome'; they will cry out that they are famintos. It adds gravitas to the performance.

One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers is forgetting the gender and number agreement. Since 'starving' is invariable in English, students often forget to change faminto to faminta or famintos. Always check who or what you are describing.

Errado: Elas estão faminto. Correto: Elas estão famintas.

Another mistake is using the verb ter with faminto. In Portuguese, we say ter fome (to have hunger) but estar faminto (to be starving). You cannot say eu tenho faminto. This is a confusion between the noun 'fome' and the adjective 'faminto'.

Verb Confusion: Incorrect: 'Eu tenho faminto.' Correct: 'Eu estou faminto' or 'Eu tenho muita fome.'

Learners also sometimes overuse faminto in casual, low-stakes situations. If you just skipped breakfast, saying Estou faminto! might sound a bit overly dramatic to a native speaker, who would likely just say Estou com muita fome. Save faminto for when the hunger is truly intense or when you want to be expressive.

There are several ways to express hunger in Portuguese, each with a specific nuance. Esfomeado is the closest synonym to faminto. It also means starving but is often used to describe someone who eats ravenously or greedily. If someone is eating very fast, you might call them an esfomeado.

Faminto vs. Esfomeado: Faminto: Emphasizes the state of needing food.
Esfomeado: Often emphasizes the act of being greedy or acting like one hasn't eaten in days.
Com Fome: The standard, neutral way to say 'hungry'. Used in 90% of daily conversations.

For extreme emphasis in informal speech, Brazilians often use morto de fome (dead from hunger). This is equivalent to 'I'm starving' in English casual conversation. Another alternative is brocado, which is regional slang (especially in the Northeast of Brazil) for being very hungry.

'Estou morto de fome, vamos almoçar?' (Informal)

In a more clinical or formal context, you might see subnutrido (undernourished) or desnutrido (malnourished). These terms refer to the long-term health state rather than the immediate sensation of hunger. Choosing the right word depends entirely on whether you are describing a feeling, a behavior, or a medical condition.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'famine' in English shares the same Latin root 'fames'. So 'faminto' and 'famine' are linguistic cousins!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /fɐ.ˈmĩ.tu/

US /fa.ˈmĩ.toʊ/

Second syllable (min)

Rhymes With

extinto labirinto instinto distinto pinto sinto tinto recinto

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'n' fully instead of nasalizing the 'i'.
Making the 'o' at the end sound like 'oh' instead of a soft 'u' sound (common in Brazil).
Forgetting to nasalize the first 'a'.
Stress on the first syllable.
Misgendering the ending.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize if you know 'fome' or 'famine'.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering gender/number agreement.

Speaking 3/5

Nasal vowels can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation in most dialects.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

fome comer muito estar comida

Learn Next

esfomeado saciar apetite banquete jejum

Advanced

famélico inanidade subnutrição avidez voracidade

Grammar to Know

Adjective Agreement

O homem faminto / As mulheres famintas.

Estar vs Ser

Eu estou faminto (temporary) vs Ele é faminto (rare, permanent trait).

Nasal Vowels

The 'am' in faminto is nasal /fɐ̃/.

Placement of Adjectives

O lobo faminto (Standard) vs O faminto lobo (Literary).

Suffix -into

Used to form adjectives like faminto from nouns like fome.

Examples by Level

Eu estou faminto.

I am starving.

Subject + verb 'estar' + adjective.

O gato está faminto.

The cat is starving.

Masculine singular agreement.

Ela está faminta.

She is starving.

Feminine singular agreement.

Nós estamos famintos.

We are starving.

Masculine plural agreement.

Você está faminto?

Are you starving?

Interrogative sentence.

O bebê está faminto.

The baby is starving (very hungry).

Common use for babies.

Eles estão famintos.

They are starving.

Plural agreement.

Não estou faminto agora.

I am not starving now.

Negative sentence.

O lobo faminto correu para a floresta.

The hungry wolf ran to the forest.

Adjective before the noun in a story.

Depois do treino, fiquei faminto.

After the workout, I got starving.

Using 'ficar' to show change of state.

As crianças famintas comeram as frutas.

The starving children ate the fruits.

Feminine plural agreement.

O cão faminto ladrou por comida.

The hungry dog barked for food.

Describing animal behavior.

Estou tão faminto que comeria um boi!

I'm so starving I could eat an ox!

Common hyperbole.

O viajante faminto encontrou uma estalagem.

The starving traveler found an inn.

Narrative use.

A gata faminta miau alto.

The starving cat (female) meowed loudly.

Feminine agreement.

Estamos famintos, onde é o restaurante?

We are starving, where is the restaurant?

Practical use in travel.

O artista estava faminto por reconhecimento.

The artist was hungry for recognition.

Metaphorical use with 'por'.

O povo faminto exigia mudanças no governo.

The starving people demanded changes in the government.

Political/social context.

Ele olhou para o bolo com um olhar faminto.

He looked at the cake with a hungry look.

Describing a look/expression.

A seca deixou o gado faminto e fraco.

The drought left the cattle starving and weak.

Cause and effect.

Ela sempre foi uma leitora faminta por livros.

She was always a reader hungry for books.

Metaphorical use for desire.

O mendigo faminto dividiu seu pão com o cão.

The starving beggar shared his bread with the dog.

Narrative characterization.

Os náufragos estavam famintos após dias no mar.

The shipwrecked survivors were starving after days at sea.

Extreme physical state.

O investidor faminto por lucro arriscou tudo.

The profit-hungry investor risked everything.

Abstract metaphorical use.

A multidão faminta rompeu as barreiras do mercado.

The starving crowd broke through the market barriers.

Collective noun 'multidão' (feminine singular).

Sentia-se faminto de afeto e compreensão.

He felt hungry for affection and understanding.

Emotional metaphor with 'de'.

O roteiro descrevia um vilão faminto de vingança.

The script described a villain hungry for revenge.

Literary characterization.

As terras áridas criavam um cenário de animais famintos.

The arid lands created a scene of starving animals.

Descriptive setting.

O estudante, faminto de saber, passava as noites na biblioteca.

The student, hungry for knowledge, spent nights in the library.

Appositive use of the adjective.

Nada saciava aquele homem faminto de poder.

Nothing satisfied that man hungry for power.

Abstract greed.

A crônica falava sobre a infância faminta no sertão.

The chronicle spoke about the starving childhood in the backlands.

Social commentary.

O olhar faminto da fera denunciava sua intenção.

The beast's hungry gaze revealed its intention.

Personification of a gaze.

A retórica do político visava o eleitor faminto de esperança.

The politician's rhetoric targeted the voter hungry for hope.

Complex metaphorical structure.

O autor retrata uma sociedade faminta de justiça social.

The author portrays a society hungry for social justice.

Sociological analysis.

A alma faminta busca consolo na arte e na música.

The hungry soul seeks solace in art and music.

Philosophical/Poetic use.

O mercado financeiro, faminto por estabilidade, reagiu mal à notícia.

The financial market, hungry for stability, reacted poorly to the news.

Metaphorical personification of the market.

A narrativa é permeada por personagens famintos, física e espiritualmente.

The narrative is permeated by characters who are hungry, physically and spiritually.

Dual meaning (physical/spiritual).

Sua escrita é faminta, devorando temas complexos com avidez.

His writing is hungry, devouring complex themes with eagerness.

Metaphor for intellectual style.

O deserto é um mestre faminto que ensina a valorizar a água.

The desert is a hungry master that teaches one to value water.

Metaphorical personification.

Eles vagavam famintos pelas ruínas da cidade sitiada.

They wandered starving through the ruins of the besieged city.

Historical/War context.

A exegese do texto revelou um subtexto faminto de subversão.

The exegesis of the text revealed a subtext hungry for subversion.

Highly academic/literary.

O capitalismo, em sua essência, é um sistema faminto de novos mercados.

Capitalism, in its essence, is a system hungry for new markets.

Economic theory context.

A estética faminta do filme reflete a escassez do período retratado.

The film's 'hungry' aesthetic reflects the scarcity of the period portrayed.

Artistic criticism.

O silêncio era faminto, como se esperasse a primeira palavra para devorá-la.

The silence was hungry, as if waiting for the first word to devour it.

Advanced poetic metaphor.

Sua ambição faminta não conhecia fronteiras éticas ou morais.

His hungry ambition knew no ethical or moral boundaries.

Moral/Ethical description.

A terra, faminta de chuva, abria fendas profundas em sua superfície.

The earth, hungry for rain, opened deep cracks in its surface.

Nature personification.

O público, faminto de entretenimento fútil, ignorou a mensagem profunda.

The public, hungry for futile entertainment, ignored the profound message.

Social critique.

Havia algo de faminto no modo como ele observava a fortuna alheia.

There was something hungry in the way he observed others' fortunes.

Subtle character nuance.

Common Collocations

lobo faminto

povo faminto

olhar faminto

criança faminta

leão faminto

faminto por poder

faminto de afeto

absolutamente faminto

visivelmente faminto

sempre faminto

Common Phrases

Estou faminto!

— A dramatic way to say you are very hungry.

Estou faminto! O que tem para o jantar?

Faminto como um lobo.

— A simile to describe extreme hunger.

Depois da trilha, eu estava faminto como um lobo.

Corações famintos.

— People seeking love or meaning.

O livro fala sobre corações famintos na cidade grande.

Faminto por saber.

— Having a great desire to learn.

O jovem estudante era faminto por saber.

Grito faminto.

— A cry that shows deep need.

Ouvia-se o grito faminto dos pássaros no ninho.

Multidões famintas.

— Large groups of people without food.

As multidões famintas esperavam por ajuda.

Olhos famintos.

— Eyes that show intense desire or hunger.

Ela observava as joias com olhos famintos.

Bicho faminto.

— A hungry animal (often used for pests).

O bicho faminto comeu as plantações.

Faminto de justiça.

— Desperate for fair treatment.

O povo está faminto de justiça.

Sempre faminto.

— Always hungry (often said of teenagers).

Aquele adolescente está sempre faminto.

Often Confused With

faminto vs fomento

Means 'promotion' or 'encouragement', sounds similar but unrelated.

faminto vs sedento

Means 'thirsty', often used in similar metaphorical ways.

faminto vs esfomeado

Very similar but often implies greed or ravenous eating.

Idioms & Expressions

"Fome de leão"

— To have a huge appetite.

Ele chegou com uma fome de leão.

informal

"Estar com a faca e o queijo na mão"

— To have everything you need to succeed (unrelated to hunger but uses food imagery).

Ele está faminto por sucesso e tem a faca e o queijo na mão.

neutral

"Vender o almoço para comprar a janta"

— To live in extreme poverty/struggle.

O homem faminto vivia vendendo o almoço para comprar a janta.

informal

"De barriga vazia"

— On an empty stomach.

Não é bom estudar faminto e de barriga vazia.

neutral

"Lamber os beiços"

— To lick one's lips (in anticipation of food).

O faminto lambia os beiços vendo o assado.

informal

"Comer com os olhos"

— To desire something intensely just by looking.

O menino faminto comia o doce com os olhos.

neutral

"Dar um boi para não entrar numa briga"

— To do anything to avoid trouble (often used when desperate).

O faminto daria um boi por um prato de comida.

informal

"Fazer jejum"

— To fast (sometimes involuntarily).

Ele estava faminto porque fez jejum o dia todo.

neutral

"Matar a fome"

— To satisfy hunger.

O pão serviu para matar a fome do faminto.

neutral

"A fome é o melhor tempero"

— Hunger makes any food taste good.

Para quem está faminto, a fome é o melhor tempero.

proverb

Easily Confused

faminto vs fome

Noun vs Adjective.

'Fome' is the noun (hunger), 'faminto' is the adjective (hungry).

Tenho fome. Sou faminto.

faminto vs famélico

Synonyms.

'Famélico' is much more formal and implies a skeletal appearance from hunger.

O prisioneiro famélico.

faminto vs esfomeado

Synonyms.

'Esfomeado' is more common for someone acting hungry, 'faminto' for the state itself.

Pare de comer assim, seu esfomeado!

faminto vs ávido

Metaphorical use.

'Ávido' is more about eagerness, 'faminto' is about a deep need.

Ávido por ler. Faminto por pão.

faminto vs desnutrido

Health state.

'Desnutrido' is a medical condition, 'faminto' is a feeling or temporary state.

A criança desnutrida precisa de médicos.

Sentence Patterns

Eu estou [adjective].

Eu estou faminto.

O [noun] [adjective] [verb].

O lobo faminto correu.

[Subject] estava faminto por [noun].

Ele estava faminto por poder.

Com um olhar [adjective], [subject] [verb].

Com um olhar faminto, o gato saltou.

[Noun], faminto de [abstract noun], [verb].

O povo, faminto de justiça, protestou.

A [noun] [adjective] de [noun] [verb].

A alma faminta de beleza buscava a arte.

Eles ficaram [adjective] após [event].

Eles ficaram famintos após a viagem.

Não há nada pior do que estar [adjective].

Não há nada pior do que estar faminto.

Word Family

Nouns

fome (hunger)

fomeada (hunger pangs)

esfomeado (starving person)

Verbs

esfomear (to starve someone)

fomear (archaic: to be hungry)

Adjectives

faminto (starving)

esfomeado (greedy/starving)

famélico (famished)

comida

refeição

apetite

jejum

nutrição

How to Use It

frequency

Common in literature and news; moderate in daily speech.

Common Mistakes

Eu tenho faminto. → Eu estou faminto.
You use 'estar' with adjectives of state, not 'ter'.
As meninas estão famintos. → As meninas estão famintas.
The adjective must agree in gender (feminine) and number (plural).
O lobo é faminto. → O lobo está faminto.
Hunger is usually a temporary state, so 'estar' is preferred.
Eu estou muito faminto. → Eu estou faminto.
While not 'wrong', 'faminto' already means 'very hungry', so 'muito' is a bit redundant.
Fomeado → Faminto or Esfomeado
'Fomeado' is not a standard word; use 'faminto' instead.

Tips

Agreement

Always match the ending (-o, -a, -os, -as) to the person you are talking about.

Literary Use

Use 'faminto' in your creative writing to make it more evocative than just using 'fome'.

Fables

If you see a wolf in a Portuguese story, expect the word 'faminto' to appear nearby.

Nasalization

Practice the nasal 'in' sound to sound more like a native speaker.

Desire

Don't be afraid to use 'faminto por...' to describe a strong passion for a hobby or goal.

Intensity

Think of 'faminto' as 10/10 hunger, while 'com fome' is 4/10.

Empathy

Use this word when discussing humanitarian issues to show you understand the severity.

Informal alternatives

Learn 'morto de fome' for your next trip to Brazil to sound more natural in a restaurant.

Adjective order

Usually, 'faminto' comes after the noun, but putting it before can sound poetic.

Stress

The stress is on the 'min' syllable. Listen for that peak in the word's melody.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Famine'. A person in a 'famine' is 'faminto'.

Visual Association

Imagine a wolf (lobo) with its ribs showing, looking at a moon made of cheese.

Word Web

fome comida barriga comer restaurante lobo starving esfomeado

Challenge

Try to use 'faminto' three times today instead of 'com fome' when you feel hungry.

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'faminis' or 'fames', which means hunger. The suffix '-into' was added in Ibero-Romance to create the adjective.

Original meaning: Being in a state of hunger.

Romance (Latin)

Cultural Context

Be careful using 'faminto' to describe real poverty unless you are being empathetic or reporting facts, as it is a strong word.

English speakers use 'starving' hyperbolically very often. Portuguese speakers do the same with 'morto de fome', while 'faminto' sounds a bit more like a storybook.

The 'Lobo Faminto' in Little Red Riding Hood. Graciliano Ramos's descriptions of the 'Sertanejos'. The song 'Fome' by various Brazilian artists.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At a restaurant

Estou faminto, pode trazer o cardápio?
O cliente faminto pediu dois pratos.
Chegamos famintos.
Não me deixe faminto!

Reading a story

Era uma vez um lobo faminto...
O herói estava faminto e cansado.
Uma fera faminta.
O olhar faminto do vilão.

Social issues

Combate à fome.
Crianças famintas no mundo.
Ajuda para os famintos.
Populações famintas.

Metaphorical desire

Faminto por sucesso.
Faminto de amor.
Faminto por notícias.
Uma mente faminta.

Pets/Animals

Meu cachorro está faminto.
O passarinho faminto piou.
Não alimente o animal faminto.
O tubarão faminto.

Conversation Starters

"Você já ficou faminto por mais de um dia?"

"O que você faz quando chega faminto em casa?"

"Você prefere estar faminto ou muito cansado?"

"Qual é a melhor comida para alguém que está faminto?"

"Você conhece alguma história sobre um lobo faminto?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva uma vez que você esteve absolutamente faminto e o que você comeu.

Escreva uma pequena fábula sobre um animal faminto na floresta.

O que significa para você ser 'faminto por conhecimento'?

Como você se sente quando vê notícias sobre povos famintos?

Imagine que você é um explorador faminto em uma ilha deserta. O que você procura?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, but you must change it to 'faminta'. For example: 'Ela está faminta'.

Yes, but Brazilians often use 'morto de fome' in casual conversation. 'Faminto' is more common in writing or formal contexts.

'Com fome' is 'hungry'. 'Faminto' is 'starving' or 'extremely hungry'. It's a matter of intensity.

Absolutely. It's very common to describe predators as 'famintos'.

Yes, 'famintos' for masculine/mixed groups and 'famintas' for feminine groups.

It is neutral to slightly formal/literary. It's not slang, but not overly academic either.

Usually, you say 'Eu estou faminto' because hunger is temporary. 'Eu sou faminto' would mean you are a hungry person by nature.

You don't pronounce it as a hard 'n'. It nasalizes the 'i' before it. It's like the French 'in'.

It means 'hungry wolf', a common character in fables and a metaphor for someone greedy.

Indirectly, yes, especially when used metaphorically like 'faminto por poder'.