24 Japanese Ways to Say “I’m Hungry
Feeling hungry is one of those universal experiences that instantly connects us all. Whether you’re at home, out with friends, or traveling, knowing how to say “I’m hungry” in Japanese can come in really handy.
Japanese offers a variety of ways to express hunger, from casual and fun phrases to polite and formal ones. Each phrase carries its own vibe and level of politeness, which makes learning them both practical and interesting.
Understanding these different expressions will not only help you communicate better but also give you a glimpse into Japanese culture and how context shapes language.
In this article, we’ll explore 24 Japanese ways to say “I’m hungry,” breaking them down by formality and everyday use. You’ll be able to pick the perfect phrase whether you’re chatting with close friends or ordering at a restaurant.
Learning these phrases will boost your confidence and help you sound more natural. Plus, it’s always fun to have a few extra expressions up your sleeve.
Ready to get started? Let’s dive in and discover how to say “I’m hungry” in Japanese in 24 different, relatable ways.
Understanding Hunger Expressions in Japanese
Before jumping into the phrases, it’s good to know a little about how hunger is expressed in Japanese.
Most phrases use the word お腹 (おなか, onaka), which means “stomach.” Others might use 食べたい (たべたい, tabetai) meaning “want to eat.” Both are common and useful roots to build your sentences around.
Knowing these basics makes it easier to recognize and remember different ways to say “I’m hungry.”
You might find a great beginner phrasebook super helpful for practicing these phrases in context.
Getting comfortable with these basics sets a strong foundation for the rest of the list.
Plus, practicing often makes it easier to switch between casual and polite expressions naturally.
Part 1: Casual Suggestions
1. お腹すいた (おなかすいた, onaka suita) — “I’m hungry”
This is the most common casual way to say “I’m hungry” among friends and family.
It literally means “stomach has emptied.” It’s easy to say and sounds very natural in everyday conversation.
Using this phrase is a quick and effective way to let others know you’re ready to eat.
It’s informal, so save it for close friends or casual situations.
A related phrase is お腹ペコペコ (おなかぺこぺこ, onaka peko peko), which is a cuter way to say you’re really hungry.
Try using this phrase next time you want to invite friends to eat with you casually!
2. お腹ペコペコ (おなかぺこぺこ, onaka peko peko) — “I’m starving”
This playful phrase is used when you’re very hungry, almost “starving.”
It mimics the sound of a rumbling stomach, making it easy to remember and fun to say daily.
Great for casual chats to express hunger with a bit of humor.
Be careful not to use this in formal settings.
For example, you can say, “お腹ペコペコだから、早くご飯食べたい！” (Onaka peko peko dakara, hayaku gohan tabetai!) meaning “I’m starving, so I want to eat soon!”
This phrase shows personality and warmth when talking with close friends.
3. お腹が減った (おなかがへった, onaka ga hetta) — “I’m hungry”
This is another casual way to say “I’m hungry,” slightly more descriptive.
It literally means “my stomach has decreased,” implying hunger.
It’s a bit more common among adults or in casual but polite conversation.
Great for everyday use with friends or family.
It’s a good alternative if you want to avoid the very informal vibe of お腹すいた.
Try saying, “もうお腹が減ったよ” (Mou onaka ga hetta yo) to express you’re already hungry.
4. お腹が空いた (おなかがすいた, onaka ga suita) — “I’m hungry”
This phrase is the full form of お腹すいた and means exactly the same.
It’s slightly more polite than the shortened version but still casual.
Perfect for casual conversations where you want to sound a bit more complete.
Good to use if you want to avoid slang but stay friendly.
For example, “お腹が空いたから、お昼ご飯食べよう！” (Onaka ga suita kara, ohiru gohan tabeyou!) means “I’m hungry, so let’s eat lunch!”
It balances casualness with clarity nicely.
5. ご飯まだ？ (ごはんまだ？, gohan mada?) — “Is the meal ready yet?”
This phrase literally means “Meal yet?” and is a casual, indirect way to express hunger.
It’s great for playful or lighthearted conversations, showing your anticipation for food.
Easy to use with friends or family, especially kids.
Note that it’s more about asking if food is ready than stating hunger directly.
In context, “ご飯まだ？お腹すいたよ！” (Gohan mada? Onaka suita yo!) means “Is the meal ready yet? I’m hungry!”
This phrase adds a friendly tone to your hunger expression.
6. お腹ぺこぺこだよ (おなかぺこぺこだよ, onaka peko peko da yo) — “I’m really hungry”
This is a fuller version of お腹ペコペコ, adding だよ (da yo) to emphasize your feeling.
It’s lively, making it easy to remember and fun to say when you’re really hungry.
Great for casual chats with friends or family.
It sounds enthusiastic and a bit playful.
For example, “お腹ぺこぺこだよ！早く食べよう！” (Onaka peko peko da yo! Hayaku tabeyou!) means “I’m really hungry! Let’s eat soon!”
This phrase helps show your excitement for food.
7. 腹減った (はらへった, hara hetta) — “I’m hungry” (very casual, masculine)
This is a very casual, masculine way to say “I’m hungry,” often used among male friends.
腹 (はら, hara) is another word for stomach, and 減った (へった, hetta) means decreased or empty.
It’s blunt and direct, so not suitable for polite or formal situations.
If you want to sound like a native guy chatting informally, this is perfect.
For example, “もう腹減った！ラーメン行こうぜ！” (Mou hara hetta! Ramen ikou ze!) means “I’m starving! Let’s go for ramen!”
Use this phrase with close male friends to sound natural and relaxed.
8. お腹がグーグー鳴ってる (おなかがグーグーなってる, onaka ga guu guu natteru) — “My stomach is growling”
This phrase describes the sound your stomach makes when you’re hungry.
グーグー (guu guu) is an onomatopoeia for the growling noise.
It’s a cute and expressive way to show hunger casually.
Useful to describe your physical feeling rather than just stating hunger.
For example, “お腹がグーグー鳴ってるから、何か食べよう！” (Onaka ga guu guu natteru kara, nanika tabeyou!) means “My stomach is growling, so let’s eat something!”
It’s a lively way to bring your hunger to life in conversation.
Part 2: Polite & Formal Suggestions
9. お腹が空きました (おなかがすきました, onaka ga sukimashita) — “I’m hungry” (polite)
This is the polite past tense form of お腹が空く (onaka ga suku), meaning “to become hungry.”
Using the ました (mashita) ending makes it respectful and appropriate for formal situations.
It’s perfect when speaking to people you’re not close with, like coworkers or elders.
For example, “少しお腹が空きましたので、休憩しましょうか？” (Sukoshi onaka ga sukimashita node, kyuukei shimashou ka?) means “I’m a bit hungry, shall we take a break?”
Using polite forms shows good manners and cultural awareness.
Practice this phrase to sound polite and considerate in formal settings.
10. お腹が減りました (おなかがへりました, onaka ga herimashita) — “I’m hungry” (polite)
Similar to the previous phrase but using 減る (heru) instead of 空く (suku).
Both verbs mean “to become hungry,” but 空く is more common in casual speech.
減りました is polite past tense, suitable for formal or workplace conversations.
For example, “お腹が減りましたので、昼食に行きましょう。” (Onaka ga herimashita node, chuushoku ni ikimashou.) means “I’m hungry, so let’s go for lunch.”
It’s good to know both verbs to vary your polite speech.
Using 減る can sound a bit more refined or old-fashioned.
11. 少しお腹が空きました (すこしおなかがすきました, sukoshi onaka ga sukimashita) — “I’m a little hungry”
This phrase softens your hunger by adding 少し (sukoshi), meaning “a little.”
It’s polite and modest, suitable for formal or mixed company.
It’s useful when you want to express hunger without sounding too direct.
For example, “少しお腹が空きましたが、まだ大丈夫です。” (Sukoshi onaka ga sukimashita ga, mada daijoubu desu.) means “I’m a little hungry, but I’m still okay.”
This phrase helps you sound thoughtful and polite.
Great for settings where directness might feel rude.
12. お腹が空いてきました (おなかがすいてきました, onaka ga suite kimashita) — “I’m starting to get hungry”
This phrase uses the verb くる (kuru) to show the action of hunger beginning.
It’s polite and subtle, good for formal or neutral situations.
It’s a nice way to inform others without sounding urgent.
For example, “お腹が空いてきましたので、休憩しましょうか？” (Onaka ga suite kimashita node, kyuukei shimashou ka?) means “I’m starting to get hungry, shall we take a break?”
It’s a gentle way to express a growing feeling.
Try this phrase for smooth, polite communication.
13. お腹が空き始めました (おなかがすきはじめました, onaka ga suki hajimemashita) — “I’m beginning to feel hungry”
This is a formal and descriptive way to say hunger is starting.
すき始めました (suki hajimemashita) means “started to get hungry.”
It’s polite and can be useful in professional or polite conversation.
For instance, “お腹が空き始めましたが、もう少し仕事を続けます。” (Onaka ga suki hajimemashita ga, mou sukoshi shigoto o tsuzukemasu.) means “I’m beginning to get hungry, but I’ll continue working a bit more.”
This phrase shows patience and formality.
Good for expressing feelings without pressure.
14. ちょっとお腹がすきました (ちょっとおなかがすきました, chotto onaka ga sukimashita) — “I’m a little hungry” (casual polite)
Adding ちょっと (chotto) means “a little” and softens the phrase.
It’s casual yet polite enough for friendly coworkers or acquaintances.
Useful to express mild hunger without being too forward.
For example, “ちょっとお腹がすきました。何か食べましょうか？” (Chotto onaka ga sukimashita. Nanika tabemashou ka?) means “I’m a little hungry. Shall we eat something?”
This phrase strikes a nice balance between casual and polite.
Easy to use in a variety of social settings.
15. 少々お腹が空いております (しょうしょうおなかがすいております, shoushou onaka ga suite orimasu) — “I’m somewhat hungry” (very formal)
This is a very formal and humble way to say you’re hungry.
Using 少々 (shoushou) means “a little” and しております is a humble form of “to be.”
Perfect for business or highly formal occasions.
For example, “少々お腹が空いておりますが、もう少し待てます。” (Shoushou onaka ga suite orimasu ga, mou sukoshi matemasu.) means “I’m a bit hungry, but I can wait a little longer.”
This phrase shows politeness and respect.
Best reserved for formal interactions.
16. ただいま少しお腹が空いております (ただいますこしおなかがすいております, tadaima sukoshi onaka ga suite orimasu) — “I’m a little hungry right now” (very formal)
This phrase combines politeness with immediacy by adding ただいま (tadaima), meaning “right now.”
It’s formal and humble, ideal for respectful communication.
You’d use this phrase in situations like formal dinners or meetings.
For example, “ただいま少しお腹が空いておりますが、食事の準備が整うまで待ちます。” (Tadaima sukoshi onaka ga suite orimasu ga, shokuji no junbi ga totonou made machimasu.) means “I’m a little hungry right now, but I’ll wait until the meal is ready.”
This phrase shows patience and etiquette.
Use it to sound very polite and considerate.
Part 3: Very Casual / Native-like Expressions
17. 腹ペコ (はらペコ, hara peko) — “Starving” (very casual)
This is a super casual and cute way to say “I’m starving.”
腹 (hara) means stomach, and ペコ (peko) is an onomatopoeic sound for hunger.
It’s often used by younger people or in playful contexts.
Not suitable for formal or polite conversation.
For example, “腹ペコだから、何か食べよう！” (Hara peko dakara, nanika tabeyou!) means “I’m starving, so let’s eat something!”
Use this phrase to sound like a native speaker in casual settings.
18. お腹グーグー (おなかグーグー, onaka guu guu) — “My stomach’s growling”
Simply stating that your stomach is making hunger noises.
It’s playful and informal, great for light conversations.
Helps you express hunger without directly saying “I’m hungry.”
For example, “お腹グーグーだよ、そろそろご飯食べたい。” (Onaka guu guu da yo, sorosoro gohan tabetai.) means “My stomach’s growling, I want to eat soon.”
It’s a fun, relatable phrase to use with friends.
Try it to bring some humor into your chats.
19. 飯くいたい (めしくいたい, meshi kuitai) — “I want to eat food” (very casual, masculine)
This phrase is very casual and masculine, often heard in informal male speech.
飯 (めし, meshi) is a casual word for food or meal, and くいたい (kuitai) means “want to eat.”
It’s blunt and direct, perfect for close friends.
For example, “もう飯くいたい！” (Mou meshi kuitai!) means “I want to eat now!”
Not suitable for polite conversation, but authentic and natural sounding.
Use it to sound like a native guy hanging out casually.
20. 腹が減って死にそう (はらがへってしにそう, hara ga hette shinisou) — “I’m so hungry I could die” (very casual)
This phrase is an exaggerated, humorous way to say you’re extremely hungry.
しにそう (shinisou) means “about to die,” used figuratively here.
It’s informal and often used jokingly among close friends.
For example, “腹が減って死にそう！早く何か食べよう！” (Hara ga hette shinisou! Hayaku nanika tabeyou!) means “I’m starving! Let’s eat something quickly!”
Great for adding humor to your hunger expression.
Use with friends who appreciate playful exaggerations.
21. 腹減りまくり (はらへりまくり, hara herimakuri) — “Super hungry” (very casual)
This phrase adds まくり (makuri) to 腹減り (hara heri), intensifying the hunger.
It means “super hungry” or “hungry as can be.”
Very casual and youthful, great for informal talks.
For example, “今日ずっと腹減りまくりだよ！” (Kyou zutto hara herimakuri dayo!) means “I’ve been super hungry all day!”
It’s energetic and fun to say.
Use it to express strong hunger with flair.
22. 腹が鳴ってる (はらがなってる, hara ga natteru) — “My stomach is growling”
This is a simple way to say your stomach is making noises.
It’s casual but natural and commonly used.
It conveys hunger without directly saying “I’m hungry.”
For example, “腹が鳴ってるから、そろそろ食べよう。” (Hara ga natteru kara, sorosoro tabeyou.) means “My stomach’s growling, so let’s eat soon.”
Good for casual conversations.
Use this phrase to describe your hunger realistically.
23. ご飯まだかな (ごはんまだかな, gohan mada kana) — “Is the food ready yet?”
This is a casual, friendly way to ask if the meal is ready.
It implies hunger and eagerness without directly stating it.
Perfect for informal settings with friends or family.
For example, “ご飯まだかな？お腹空いたよ。” (Gohan mada kana? Onaka suita yo.) means “Is the food ready? I’m hungry.”
It’s indirect and polite in casual speech.
Use it to express hunger with anticipation.
24. お腹ぺこぺこすぎてやばい (おなかぺこぺこすぎてやばい, onaka peko peko sugite yabai) — “I’m way too hungry” (very casual/slang)
This slang phrase adds すぎて (sugite) meaning “too much” and やばい (yabai) meaning “crazy” or “serious.”
It expresses extreme hunger in a fun, slangy way.
Popular among young people in casual settings.
For example, “お腹ぺこぺこすぎてやばい、早く何か食べたい！” (Onaka peko peko sugite yabai, hayaku nanika tabetai!) means “I’m way too hungry, I want to eat something fast!”
It’s expressive and trendy.
Use this phrase to sound like a native speaker in informal conversations.
Concluding Thought
Exploring these 24 ways to say “I’m hungry” in Japanese shows how rich and varied the language is. From casual chats to polite conversations, you have plenty of options to express your hunger just right.
Mastering these expressions will not only improve your Japanese but also help you connect better culturally and socially. It’s all about choosing the right phrase for the right moment.
Keep practicing, have fun with these phrases, and soon you’ll sound like a natural whenever hunger strikes!