If you search how to say “I’m hungry” on Google Translate, the answer you get is: “estou com fome”. But is that all there is to it?
No. As usual, Google is a bit too literal. What can we do… Google is only a machine! So, how do we say “estou com fome” in Portuguese?
There are a few main ways to naturally express this feeling of hunger.
1 – Morrendo de fome
This expression translates to “dying of hunger” and is used informally to describe someone who is extremely hungry, almost to the point of exaggeration, as if they feel they might starve.
Depois do treino intenso, ele estava morrendo de fome e ansioso por uma refeição reforçada.
After the intense workout, he was famished and eager for a hearty meal.
Chegando em casa depois trabalho, ela estava morrendo de fome e pronta para devorar qualquer coisa que encontrasse na geladeira.
Coming home after work, she was famished and ready to devour anything she found in the fridge.
Depois de uma tarde inteira na praia, estávamos morrendo de fome e prontos para um jantar delicioso.
After an entire afternoon at the beach, we were famished and ready for a delicious dinner.
Durante o intervalo do filme, todos correram para a lanchonete, morrendo de fome e querendo pipoca.
During the movie break, everyone rushed to the snack bar, famished and craving popcorn.
O rapaz estava verde de fome após perder o almoço por causa de uma reunião de trabalho.
The guy was ravenous after missing lunch due to a work meeting.
2 – Brocado
A slang term in Brazilian Portuguese, “brocado” means extremely hungry. It’s often used in casual conversations among friends to emphasize a strong feeling of hunger.
Caramba, que horas a comida fica pronta? Eu tô brocado!
Wow, what time will the food be ready? I’m starving!
Tava sem dinheiro na faculdade, aí fiquei até agora sem comer nada, tô brocado.
I had no money in college, so I haven’t eaten anything until now. I’m starving.
Voltando para casa depois da academia, ele tava tão brocado que devorou um sanduíche em segundos.
Coming home after the gym, he was so starving that he devoured a sandwich in seconds.
3 – Cagado de fome
This is a very informal and somewhat crude expression meaning “starving to death.” It literally translates to “crapped from hunger,” emphasizing an intense level of hunger with a touch of humor or vulgarity.
Enquanto esperávamos o jantar ficar pronto, meu irmão mais novo estava cagado de fome e reclamando sem parar.
While we waited for dinner to be ready, my younger brother was starving to death and kept complaining non-stop.
Depois daquele longo voo, finalmente chegamos ao hotel, cagados de fome e procurando um lugar para comer.
After that long flight, we finally got to the hotel, starving to death and looking for a place to eat.
4 – Faminto
This is the standard word for “hungry” or “famished” in Portuguese. It’s used in both formal and informal contexts to describe someone who needs to eat.
Ela pulou o café da manhã, então, pela metade da manhã, ela já estava se sentindo faminta.
She skipped breakfast, so by mid-morning, she was already feeling hungry.
A espera pelo jantar, no restaurante lotado, deixou todos os clientes famintos e impacientes.
The wait for dinner at the crowded restaurant left all the customers hungry and impatient.
Ao sentir o cheiro do churrasco na churrasqueira, ela ficou ainda mais faminta e mal podia esperar para comer.
Smelling the barbecue on the grill made her even hungrier, and she could hardly wait to eat.
5 – Na larica
This slang phrase means “having the munchies,” often associated with the intense hunger that comes after using marijuana. It can also be used more broadly to describe being very hungry after not eating for a long time.
Fiquei sem comer o dia inteiro e agora tô na larica.
I haven’t eaten all day, and now I’ve got the munchies.
Ela vive na larica porque é maconheira.
She’s always got the munchies because she’s a pothead.
6 – Verde de fome
This expression translates to “green with hunger” and is used informally to describe someone who is so hungry that they feel weak or sick, as if their face might turn green from the lack of food.
Ela tava verde de fome após um dia inteiro de dieta.
She was ravenous after an entire day of dieting.
Apesar de ter tomado um considerável café da manhã, ele estava verde de fome na hora do almoço.
Despite having had a considerable breakfast, he was ravenous by lunchtime.
