Italian grammar
Ho fame, hai caldo...
Say you are hungry, thirsty, hot or cold.
From the scene Ho fame (I'm hungry)
In short
Hunger, thirst, heat, cold and age use avere, never essere: ho fame, hai caldo, ho ottant'anni.
- I am hot ho caldo
- you are hot hai caldo
- are you cold? (polite) ha freddo?
- I am thirsty / hungry ho sete / ho fame
Your turn
Which one goes with you are hot?
Options: hai caldo · ho caldo · ha freddo?
Show answer
you are hot → hai caldo
How it works
Italian says "I have hunger": avere + fame / sete / freddo / caldo.
Good to know
Never essere here (not sono caldo). Ho = I have, hai = you have, ha = he/she has or you have (polite).
Good to know
Age works the same way: ho ottant'anni.
I am hot ho caldo
Javi
Anch'io ho caldo.
I'm hot too.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Anch'io (blank).
Options: ho caldo · hai caldo · ha freddo
Show answer
Javi
Anch'io ho caldo.
I'm hot too.
you are hot hai caldo
Elena
Tu hai caldo. Io ho ottant'anni.
You're hot. I'm eighty.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Tu (blank). Io ho ottant'anni.
Options: ho caldo · ha freddo · hai caldo
Show answer
Elena
Tu hai caldo. Io ho ottant'anni.
You're hot. I'm eighty.
are you cold? (polite) ha freddo?
Nuria
Freddo? Lei ha freddo?
Cold? You're cold?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Freddo? Lei (blank)?
Options: ha freddo · ho caldo · hai caldo
Show answer
Nuria
Freddo? Lei ha freddo?
Cold? You're cold?
I am thirsty / hungry ho sete / ho fame
Nuria
E ho sete.
And I'm thirsty.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
E (blank).
Options: hai caldo · ho sete · ho caldo
Show answer
Nuria
E ho sete.
And I'm thirsty.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| I am hot | ho caldo |
|---|---|
| you are hot | hai caldo |
| are you cold? (polite) | ha freddo? |
| I am thirsty / hungry | ho sete / ho fame |
More lines from the story
- ElenaCiao, ragazzi! Uh, ho freddo.Hi, kids! Oh, I'm cold.
- ElenaSì, cara. E ho fame. Una cioccolata calda e churros.Yes, dear. And I'm hungry. A hot chocolate and churros.