Panda eating leaves with a jungle in the background

How to Say ‘I’m Hungry’ in Korean

Is your stomach grumbling? Did you skip lunch?

Then you’re going to need to know how to say ‘I’m hungry’ in Korean!

Let’s jump right into it.

Panda eating leaves with a jungle in the background

Can't read Korean yet? Click here to learn for free in about 60 minutes!

‘Hungry’ vs. ‘Full’ in Korean

When talking about whether you are hungry or not, two different adjectives are used.

In front of each adjective is the word 배 (bae), which means ‘stomach’. To say that you are hungry, you add the adjective 고프다 (gopeuda) to make 배고프다 (baegopeuda).

Strictly speaking, the particle ‘가’ (ga) should come after ‘배’ to make ‘배가 고프다 (baega gopeuda)’. However, when speaking, people drop this particle.

If you want to say that you are full, then you need to use a different adjective completely. This adjective is 부르다 (bureuda), so to say ‘I am full’ in Korean, you would use 배부르다 (baebureuda).

How to Say I'M HUNGRY in Korean | 90 Day Korean

Hungry Exclamations in Korean

1. 배고프다! (baegopeuda) – I’m hungry!

2. 배부르다! (baebureuda) – I’m full!

When talking to themselves or making expressions, Koreans sometimes use a special form of the language which ends in 다. Although it looks like the dictionary form of the word, it is actually slightly different (Go here for Korean dictionaries).

If you are using an adjective (like ‘hungry’) then you don’t need to change the word. You can use the standard form of the verb.

If you are making an exclamation that uses a verb, then the verb changes (for example 비가 온다 – biga onda | It’s raining).

Formal ‘I’m Hungry’ in Korean

1. 배고픕니다 (baegopeumnida) – I’m hungryHow to Say I'm Hungry in Korean formal

2. 배부릅니다 (baebureumnida) – I’m full

In very formal situations, you can use these two expressions. However, in reality you are unlikely to say them often.

Standard ‘I’m Hungry’ in Korean

1. 배고파요 (baegopayo) – I’m hungryHow to Say I'm Hungry in Korean standard

2. 배불러요 (baebulleoyo) – I’m full

You can use these expressions to say that you are hungry or that you are full. They can be used in most situations.

If you want to ask somebody if they are hungry or full then just change the intonation to make a question. For example, you could ask: ‘배고파요 (baegopayo)?’

Informal ‘I’m Hungry’ in Korean

1. 배고파 (baegopa) – I’m hungryHow to Say I'm Hungry in Korean informal

2. 배불러 (baebulleo) – I’m full

These expressions can be used when talking to close friends of a similar age.

They can also be used instead of exclamations when you are talking to yourself.

To ask them as a question, just change to an upward intonation at the end of the expression.

Bonus Ways to Say ‘Hungry’ in KoreanHow to Say I'm Hungry in Korean Bonus

If you are really hungry then you can use the following expression. Its meaning in Korean and English is basically the same, so it should be easy to remember.

1. 배가 고파서 죽을 것 같다 (baega gopaseo jugeul geot gatda)How to Say I'm Hungry in Korean - I'm so hungry that I could die

If you want to sound cute then you can use this aegyo expression.

2. 배고팡 (baegopang)How to Say I'm Hungry in Korean - cute

Now you know how to say ‘I’m hungry’ in Korean, it is time to find a 맛집 (matjip | delicious restaurant) and chow down.

What is your favorite Korean food to eat when you’re hungry? Let us know in the comments below!

And check out more great Korean Phrases at this page!

20 thoughts on “How to Say ‘I’m Hungry’ in Korean”

  1. Anna Han Ji Min

    안녕하세요! I have a small confusion to clear. Earlier you have stated that the particle ‘가’ should come after ‘배’ to make ‘배가 고프다 ’. However, I noticed that the particle ‘가’ was omitted for 배고프다 and for 배고파요. For the purpose of double confirm, is it a must to use ‘가’ after 배? and is it okay to omit the ‘가’? Thank you in advance dear 90 Day Korean team!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *