Avoir faim, soif, chaud, froid, … ans
Being hungry, thirsty, hot, cold – and your age
French uses avoir (to have) in several everyday expressions where English uses to be. You literally "have" hunger, thirst, heat and years.
The key expressions
| French | English |
|---|---|
| avoir faim | to be hungry |
| avoir soif | to be thirsty |
| avoir chaud | to be hot |
| avoir froid | to be cold |
| avoir sommeil | to be sleepy |
| avoir peur (de) | to be afraid (of) |
| avoir raison | to be right |
| avoir tort | to be wrong |
| avoir … ans | to be … years old |
| avoir de la chance | to be lucky |
- J'ai faim, on mange ?I'm hungry, shall we eat?
- Tu as soif ?Are you thirsty?
- Nous avons froid.We're cold.
- Tu as raison.You're right.
Age
You have your age, and you must say ans (years):
- J'ai trente ans.I'm thirty.
- Quel âge as-tu ?How old are you?
- Ma fille a six ans.My daughter is six.
Never Je suis trente.
Hot and cold
- For people, use avoir: J'ai chaud.
- For the weather, use il fait: Il fait chaud. See Il fait….
- For things, use être: Le café est chaud.
Je suis chaud(e) doesn't mean you're warm: it means "I'm up for it" or has a sexual meaning. Always say j'ai chaud.
More avoir expressions in Avoir besoin de, avoir envie de, avoir peur de.
Practice
- I'm hungry.Options: J'ai faim. · Je suis faim. · Je suis affamé de.
Show the answer
J'ai faim.
- He is ten years old.Options: Il a dix ans. · Il est dix ans. · Il est dix.
Show the answer
Il a dix ans.
- We're cold.Options: Nous avons froid. · Nous sommes froids. · Nous faisons froid.
Show the answer
Nous avons froid.
- Tu _____ soif ?
Show the answer
as
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days until you've mastered it.