tengo fame
🇮🇹 Italian slang from Naples
What does “tengo fame” mean?
I'm hungry
Example
“Mammà, tengo fame, che se mangia?”
Mom, I'm hungry, what are we eating?
Good to know
Southern use of 'tenere' instead of 'avere' (to have). Standard Italian: 'ho fame'.
Who you can say it to
Fine with anyone
🌮 Food
The textbook way to say it: Ho fame.
Heard in a conversation
Sunday on the seafront
Gaetano Uè Rosà, comme staje? Jamme 'o lungomare, ce sta 'o sole!
Hey Rosà, how are you? Let's go to the seafront, the sun's out!
Rosaria Uè Gaetà! Bene, ma tengo fame. Primma pigliammo 'na sfogliatella?
Hey Gaetà! Good, but I'm hungry. Shall we grab a sfogliatella first?
Gaetano Sempe a magnà! Va buò, ma ampressa, ca dopo ce sta 'a folla.
Always eating! Okay, but quickly, later it gets crowded.
🍝 How other countries say “I'm starving”
- 🇮🇹 ho una fame da lupiItaly
- 🇮🇹 c'ho 'na fameRome
More from Naples
- 'na birrettaa quick beer
- il limoncellolemon liqueur
- la pizza a portafogliostreet pizza folded in four
- la sfogliatellashell-shaped flaky pastry with ricotta
- 'o cuoppopaper cone of fried food
- 'o ragùslow-cooked Sunday meat sauce
- 'na tazzulella 'e cafèa little cup of coffee
- il caffè sospesoa "suspended" coffee, paid ahead for a stranger
Songs from Naples
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