der
Hunger
🍽️ What does "der Hunger" mean?
Der Hunger (masculine) primarily describes the physical feeling or need to consume food. It's a basic signal from the body that energy is required.
- Main meaning: The desire for food, triggered by an empty stomach or need for energy.
- Figurative meaning: A strong desire or craving for something else, e.g., Wissenshunger (thirst/hunger for knowledge), Machthunger (lust for power), Lebenshunger (lust for life).
🚨 Important: The word is masculine: der Hunger. There are no other articles for this word.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar of "Hunger" in Detail
"Hunger" is a noun (Substantiv) and is **masculine**. It is mostly used in the singular without an article, especially in the phrase "Hunger haben" (to be hungry). When used with an article or adjective, it must be declined.
Singular
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | der Hunger | ein Hunger |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des Hungers | eines Hungers |
| Dative (To/For whom?) | dem Hunger | einem Hunger |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | den Hunger | einen Hunger |
Plural
The plural of "Hunger" is very rare and mostly used in poetic or very specific language (e.g., "die Hunger der Welt" - the hungers/famines of the world). In everyday language, there is virtually no plural.
| Case | Definite Article |
|---|---|
| Nominative | die Hunger |
| Genitive | der Hunger |
| Dative | den Hungern |
| Accusative | die Hunger |
Example Sentences
- Ich habe großen Hunger. (I am very hungry. - Accusative, often without article)
- Der Hunger treibt ihn zum Stehlen. (Hunger drives him to steal. - Nominative)
- Er starb fast vor Hunger. (He almost died of hunger. - Dative, often without article after preposition)
- Wir kämpfen gegen den Hunger in der Welt. (We fight against hunger in the world. - Accusative)
- Sein Hunger nach Erfolg ist unstillbar. (His hunger for success is insatiable. - Nominative, figurative meaning)
🗣️ How to use "Hunger"?
"Hunger" is used very frequently in German, often in set phrases:
- Hunger haben (literally: to have hunger): This is the most common way to say you are hungry. Example: Hast du Hunger? Sollen wir etwas essen gehen? - Are you hungry? Shall we go get something to eat?
- Hunger bekommen/kriegen (to get hungry): Describes the process of becoming hungry. Example: Vom vielen Schwimmen bekomme ich immer Hunger. - I always get hungry from swimming a lot.
- Hunger leiden (to suffer hunger): Describes a serious situation of food shortage, often in the context of poverty or crises. Example: Viele Menschen in Kriegsgebieten leiden Hunger. - Many people in war zones suffer from hunger.
- Den Hunger stillen (to satisfy one's hunger): Means to eat enough to no longer be hungry. Example: Ein Apfel reicht nicht, um meinen Hunger zu stillen. - An apple isn't enough to satisfy my hunger.
- Vor Hunger sterben/umkommen (to die of hunger): Often an exaggerated (hyperbolic) statement to express strong hunger. Example: Ich sterbe vor Hunger, wann gibt es endlich Essen? - I'm starving, when will food finally be served?
- Bärenhunger haben (to have the hunger of a bear): To be extremely hungry. Example: Nach der Wanderung hatte ich einen Bärenhunger. - After the hike, I was ravenous.
- Figurative meaning: As mentioned, "Hunger" can also express a strong desire for non-material things (Wissenshunger, Lebenshunger, etc.). Example: Ihr Wissenshunger führte sie an die Universität. - Her thirst for knowledge led her to university.
⚠️ Potential confusion: The adjective is "hungrig". You say "Ich bin hungrig" (I am hungry) or "Ich habe Hunger" (I have hunger). Do not say "Ich bin Hunger".
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Hunger"
Remembering the article: Think of a hungry bear 🐻. A bear is often associated with strength, a 'male' characteristic in some stereotypes. Imagine a strong *he*-bear: DER Bär. What does he have? Hunger! So: DER Hunger.
Remembering the meaning: The word Hunger sounds a bit like the English word "hunger". Also, when you are very hungry, you might get *hangry* (hungry + angry). That feeling is Hunger.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar words)
- Appetit (der): Appetite, more the desire or pleasure in eating, not necessarily a strong physical need. Guten Appetit! - Enjoy your meal!
- Esslust (die): Desire to eat, similar to Appetit.
- Schmacht (der): Craving (colloquial), strong desire, often for something specific (e.g., cigarettes, sweets), but also for hunger.
- Bedürfnis nach Nahrung (das): Need for food (more formal).
- Gier (die) / Verlangen (das): Greed / Desire, craving. More often used in the figurative sense (e.g., Machtgier - greed for power, Wissensdurst - thirst for knowledge, sometimes used instead of Wissenshunger).
Antonyms (opposites)
- Sättigung (die): Satiation, satiety, the state of no longer being hungry after eating.
- Sattheit (die): Fullness, satiety, similar to Sättigung.
- Appetitlosigkeit (die): Loss of appetite.
- Überfluss (der): Abundance, surplus, the opposite of lack (hunger in the sense of food shortage).
Similar but misleading words:
- Durst (der): Thirst, the need to drink, not eat.
- hungrig (adjective): hungry, describes the state of having hunger ("Ich bin hungrig" - I am hungry).
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Lehrer: "Was ist schlimmer als Hunger und Durst?"
Fritzchen meldet sich: "Heimweh, Herr Lehrer!"
Lehrer: "Wieso denn Heimweh?"
Fritzchen: "Weil man es nicht einfach austrinken oder aufessen kann!" 😄
English Translation: The teacher asks: "What is worse than hunger and thirst?"
Little Fritz raises his hand: "Homesickness, teacher!"
Teacher: "Why homesickness?"
Fritz: "Because you can't just drink it or eat it!" 😄
📜 Poem about Hunger
German:
Der Magen knurrt, ein leerer Raum,
ein leises Grummeln, kaum ein Traum.
Der Hunger meldet sich ganz sacht,
hat an die nächste Mahlzeit gedacht.
Ein Apfel, Brot, ein kleines Stück,
bringt schnell das Wohlgefühl zurück.
Doch manchmal ist er groß und stark,
ein Bärenhunger, Tag für Tag.
Dann braucht es mehr, 'ne volle Speise,
auf dieser langen Lebensreise.
English Translation:
The stomach rumbles, an empty space,
a quiet grumble, barely a trace.
Der Hunger (Hunger) makes itself known softly,
thinking already of the next repast swiftly.
An apple, bread, a little bite,
quickly brings back feeling right.
But sometimes it is large and strong,
a bear's hunger, all day long.
Then more is needed, a full meal's grace,
on this long journey, life's long race.
❓ Little Riddle
German:
Ich habe keinen Mund, doch kann ich schreien laut,
wenn man mich nicht beachtet, wird die Laune schlecht gebaut.
Ich wohne oft im Bauch, mal klein und mal ganz groß,
Stillt man mich nicht bald, lässt die Kraft dich restlos los.
Was bin ich? ... Der Hunger
English Translation:
I have no mouth, yet I can scream aloud,
If ignored, a bad mood starts to crowd.
I often live inside the belly, sometimes small, sometimes vast,
If not soon satisfied, your strength won't last.
What am I?
... Hunger (der Hunger)
💡 Other Information
Word Composition & Origin:
The word "Hunger" comes from the Old High German "hungar" and is related to the verb "hungern" (to hunger, to starve). It has always referred to the lack of food.
Related Words:
- hungrig (adjective): hungry.
- hungern (verb): to suffer from hunger, to starve.
- aushungern (verb): to starve someone/something out.
- Hungersnot (die): famine.
- Heißhunger (der): craving, ravenous hunger, often sudden and for specific foods.
- Kohldampf (der): Colloquial term for great hunger (literally 'cabbage steam').
Cultural Significance: Hunger is not just a biological phenomenon but also a significant social and political issue (Welthunger - world hunger, poverty). In literature and art, hunger is often used as a metaphor for desire, lack, or hardship.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Hunger?
The German word for hunger is masculine. The correct article is der Hunger.