Get prepared to discover all the things you need to know about the basic French expression "J'ai un petit creux". It includes a detailed guide of what it is and how you can use it in a casual conversation with an audio example. Plus, we also added some useful stuff like dialogue example, slow pronunciation audio, synonyms and more!
Translation : I am a little hungry
Literal meaning : I have a little hollow
Register : Informal - Basic
Slow
Normal
IPA : / ʒe ɛ̃ pəti kʁø /
It literally means:
The expression "J'ai un petit creux" is useful to say "I am a little hungry" in informal contexts. The "creux" (hollow) in this expression is a reference to the sensation of void/emptiness in our stomach when we are hungry.
As you may have noticed, in French we don't use "to be hungry" but "to have hunger" instead. For example, the most basic way to say "I am hungry" is "J'ai faim". (Literally: I have hunger)
Whenever you start to feel this annoying emptiness in your stomach, you can use "J'ai un petit creux" (I am a little hungry). But when you are extremely hungry/starving, other expressions are more suitable, for example: "J'ai la dalle" or "J'ai les crocs" (Which both basically mean: "I'm starving").
Beware that all these expressions are informal. For the formal way to express this feeling, use "J'ai faim" (I'm hungry).
Dialogue
J'ai un petit creux, et toi ?
I am a little hungry, and you?
Non j'ai trop mangé, mais j'ai soif
No, I ate too much, but I'm thirsty
As usual...
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