"j'ai très faime"

Craig B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

"j'ai très faime"

"J'ai très faime !"   is literally, "I have very hunger" which seems odd.  I thought it would be "J'ai beaucoup de faime !" or I have lots of hunger.  Why?

Asked 2 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Craig, 

This is the Kwiziq lesson you need for to be hungry/to be thirsty -

Avoir faim / soif = To be hungry / thirsty

If you want to say I am very hungry, you would say 

J'ai très faim

because

J'ai faim = I am hungry 

you could also say 

J'ai très soif = I am very thirsty

or even 

J'ai très froid/chaud = I am very very cold/hot

because 

J'ai froid/chaud = I am cold/hot

Hope this helps!

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

“Avoir faim” is a verbal expression, and separating the words to translate to English is not necessarily a fruitful approach  - using the expression with an adverb is acceptable in current usage according to Larousse. It is certainly very common usage in everyday speech, and noted as ‘familiar usage’ in Robert also. 

Note Larousse under “Difficultés” https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/faim/32696  https://dictionnaire.lerobert.com/definition/faim https://www.wordreference.com/fren/faim

Craig B. asked:

"j'ai très faime"

"J'ai très faime !"   is literally, "I have very hunger" which seems odd.  I thought it would be "J'ai beaucoup de faime !" or I have lots of hunger.  Why?

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