im hungry in korean
How to Say "I'm Hungry" in Korean (배고파): Casual, Polite & Cute
배고파
baegopa
Quick answer
Say 배고파 (baegopa) to friends or family and 배고파요 (baegopayo) in polite settings — both mean 'I'm hungry' in Korean.
Common forms
| Register | Hangul | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| casual | 배고파 | baegopa | Between friends or family — the everyday 'I'm hungry.' Direct, comfortable, and the form you'll hear in virtually every K-drama pre-meal scene. |
| polite | 배고파요 | baegopayo | Polite form — appropriate with people you're not super close with or when you want to show basic courtesy. The -요 ending is the key difference. |
| declarative / self-exclamation | 배고프다 | baegopeu-da | The plain-form declaration — sounds like you're announcing it to yourself or to the room. Very common when slumping on the couch or walking into a kitchen. |
| really hungry | 너무 배고파 | neomu baegopa | 너무 (so/very) intensifies it — common when dramatically hungry or trying to get a friend to agree to food faster. |
How it changes by relationship
야, 나 배고파. 뭐 먹을까?
Ya, na baegopa. Mwo meogeulkka?
to a close friend: Hey, I'm hungry. What should we eat? — 야 is a casual attention-getter between friends. 뭐 먹을까? (what should we eat?) often follows automatically.
엄마, 저 배고파요.
Eomma, jeo baegopayo.
to a parent or family member (polite): Mom, I'm hungry — 저 (jeo) is the humble first-person pronoun used with family when showing respect. Using the polite form with parents is common in Korean households.
배고파 죽겠어 ㅠㅠ
Baegopa jukgesseo ㅠㅠ
texting a friend: I'm dying of hunger ㅠㅠ — 죽겠어 (jukgesseo) literally means 'I might die' but is pure hyperbole in casual speech. Classic hunger complaint text.
배고파요? 먹을까요?
Baegopayo? Meogeulkkayo?
asking if someone is hungry: Are you hungry? Should we eat? — a considerate, gentle way to suggest a meal without being pushy.
Examples
배고파, 밥 먹으러 가자!
Baegopa, bap meogeureo gaja!
I'm hungry, let's go eat!
나 진짜 배고프다...
Na jinjja baegopeuda...
I'm really hungry...
배고프지 않아요? 같이 드실래요?
Baegopeoji anayo? Gachi deusillaeyo?
Aren't you hungry? Would you like to eat together?
Usage note
배고파 comes from 배 (bae, stomach/belly) + 고프다 (gopeuda, to be hungry) — literally 'my belly is hungry.' One thing that surprises English speakers: Koreans often skip saying 'I'm hungry' altogether and just suggest food instead — 뭐 먹을까? (what should we eat?) or 밥 먹으러 가자 (let's go eat) implies hunger without stating it. This indirect approach is very natural in Korean conversation, especially between close friends.
Mini quiz
What is the primary Korean phrase for "I'm hungry" here?
FAQ
How do I say 'I'm full' in Korean?
배불러 (baebulleo) casually or 배불러요 (baebulleoyo) politely — 배 (stomach) + 부르다 (buleuda, to be full). You'll also hear 다 먹었어 (I finished eating) as a natural way to signal you're done.
What's 배고파 죽겠어?
죽겠어 (jukgesseo) literally means 'I might die' but in casual speech it's hyperbole. 배고파 죽겠어 = 'I'm starving / so hungry I could die' — perfectly normal to say to friends.
What do Koreans say before eating?
잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgesseumnida) — 'I will eat well' — is said before a meal as a form of gratitude. After eating, 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida, I ate well) expresses thanks to whoever prepared the food.
How do I say 'I'm hungry' formally?
배가 고픕니다 (baega gopseumnida) is the formal version, though it's stiff for everyday use. In practice, even in polite settings, 배고파요 gets the job done.
What does mukbang have to do with hunger in Korean?
먹방 (mukbang) combines 먹다 (meokda, to eat) + 방송 (bangsong, broadcast). It became a cultural phenomenon partly because watching others eat triggers appetite and a sense of shared mealtime — food is central to Korean social bonding.
Is it rude to say you're hungry in Korean?
Not at all — it's a natural conversation starter. Koreans bond heavily over food, so announcing hunger is often an invitation to eat together.