🇯🇵 Japanese phrases

How to Say "I am hungry" in Japanese

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
お腹が空いた
"I am hungry" in Japanese · say it like oh-nah-kah gah soo-ee-tah

The most natural way to say "I am hungry" in Japanese is お腹が空いた. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

お腹が減った
casual way to express hunger
お腹がすいた
another casual variant, slightly more common in conversation

When to use it

Use this phrase when you feel hungry and want to express it to someone. It is commonly used in casual conversations among friends or family. You can also use it when discussing meal plans or asking if it's time to eat.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "I am hungry" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Japanese

JapaneseEnglish
お腹が空いたから、何か食べに行こう。I'm hungry, so let's go eat something.
Common mistake
Some learners might confuse this phrase with 'お腹がいっぱい' (I am full), which means the opposite.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear お腹が空いた, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Japanese with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

What is a polite way to say I am hungry?

You can say 'お腹が空いております' for a more formal expression.

Learn Japanese by speaking it

Two free conversations. No card needed.