भूखा (bhookhaa)

adjective A common adjective meaning 'hungry,' with an extended figurative sense meaning 'craving/greedy for' something non-physical, as in power or attention.

Sense 1 : hungry (for food)

adjective, masculine/feminine

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the word every Indian mother uses the moment you walk in the door: तुम भूखे हो? (tum bhookhe ho, 'are you hungry?') is practically a greeting in many homes, food being the default love language. It pairs naturally with its noun root भूख (bhookh, 'hunger') -- feel free to think of भूखा (bhookhaa) as simply 'having भूख.'

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say मुझे भूखा है (mujhe bhookhaa hai) by analogy with other को-marked feelings, but भूखा (bhookhaa) agrees with the subject in gender/number and takes a normal subject: मैं भूखा हूँ (main bhookhaa hoon, 'I am hungry'), not a dative-subject construction. 2) Do not confuse with the verb भूखना (bhookhnaa) or the noun भूख (bhookh, 'hunger') -- भूखा (bhookhaa) itself is the adjective describing the state, and the two are often mixed up by beginners reaching for 'I am hunger' instead of 'I am hungry.'

Sample Sentences:

क्या तुम भूखे हो? Are you hungry?

(kyaa tum bhookhe ho?)

मुझे बहुत भूख लगी है, कुछ खाने को दो। I'm very hungry, give me something to eat.

(mujhe bahut bhookh lagii hai, kuchh khaane ko do।)

बच्चा भूखा था इसलिए रो रहा था। The child was hungry, so he was crying.

(bachchaa bhookhaa thaa islie ro rahaa thaa।)

सुबह से कुछ नहीं खाया, अब तो बहुत भूख लगेगी। I haven't eaten anything since morning, I'll be very hungry now.

(subah se kuchh nahiin khaayaa, ab to bahut bhookh lagegii।)

अगर तुम भूखे होते तो इतनी जल्दी सो नहीं पाते। If you were hungry, you wouldn't have been able to fall asleep so quickly.

(agar tum bhookhe hote to itnii jaldii so nahiin paate।)

गरीब बच्चे रोज़ भूखे सोते हैं। Poor children go to sleep hungry every day.

(gariib bachche roz bhookhe sote hain।)

कृपया कोई भूखा न रहे, सबको खाना परोसा जाए। Please let no one remain hungry, let everyone be served food.

(kripyaa koii bhookhaa n rahe, sabko khaanaa parosaa jaae।)

इतनी देर से भूखा मत बैठ, कुछ खा ले। Don't sit hungry for so long, eat something.

(itnii der se bhookhaa mat baith, kuchh khaa le।)

जब वह घर पहुँचा तो भूखा और थका हुआ था। When he reached home, he was hungry and tired.

(jab vah ghar pahunchaa to bhookhaa aur thakaa huaa thaa।)

अतिथि भूखे न जाएँ, यह हर घर की परंपरा रही है। That guests should not leave hungry has been the tradition of every household.

(atithi bhookhe n jaaen, yah har ghar kii parampraa rahii hai।)

भूखे पेट भजन नहीं होते। One cannot worship on an empty (hungry) stomach.

(bhookhe pet bhajan nahiin hote।)

Sense 2 : craving, greedy, starved for (something abstract)

adjective, masculine/feminine Takes का (kaa) to mark what one is hungry for, e.g. पैसे का भूखा (paise kaa bhookhaa, 'hungry for money').

Synonyms: लालची (laalchii, greedy -- broader, not just 'hungry for')

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: You will hear this used pointedly about people, often with a critical edge: सत्ता का भूखा (sattaa kaa bhookhaa, 'power-hungry') or तारीफ़ का भूखा (taariif kaa bhookhaa, 'hungry for praise') both carry a faint disapproval, much like the English 'power-hungry' does.

Sample Sentences:

वो आदमी सत्ता का भूखा है। That man is power-hungry.

(vo aadmii sattaa kaa bhookhaa hai।)

वो नेता शुरू से ही सत्ता का भूखा रहा है। That politician has been power-hungry from the very start.

(vo netaa shuroo se hii sattaa kaa bhookhaa rahaa hai।)

मेरा बॉस तारीफ़ का भूखा है, उसे हर बात पर शाबाशी चाहिए। My boss is starved for praise, he wants applause for every little thing.

(meraa bos taariif kaa bhookhaa hai, use har baat par shaabaashii chaahie।)

अगर तुम शोहरत के भूखे नहीं होते, तो इतना दिखावा क्यों करते? If you weren't so hungry for fame, why would you put on such a show?

(agar tum shohrat ke bhookhe nahiin hote, to itnaa dikhaavaa kyon karte?)

कहीं वो प्यार का भूखा न हो, इसलिए इतना ध्यान चाहता है। Maybe he's starved for love, that's why he craves so much attention.

(kahiin vo pyaar kaa bhookhaa n ho, islie itnaa dhyaan chaahtaa hai।)

पैसे के भूखे लोग अक्सर दोस्ती को भी फ़ायदे से तोलते हैं। People hungry for money often weigh even friendship in terms of profit.

(paise ke bhookhe log aksar dostii ko bhii faayde se tolte hain।)

इतने भूखे मत बनो शोहरत के, थोड़ा सब्र भी रखो। Don't be so hungry for fame, have a little patience too.

(itne bhookhe mat bano shohrat ke, thodaa sabr bhii rakho।)

जो सत्ता का भूखा होता है, वो अक्सर अपने ही लोगों को धोखा दे देता है। One who is power-hungry often ends up betraying his own people.

(jo sattaa kaa bhookhaa hotaa hai, vo aksar apne hii logon ko dhokhaa de detaa hai।)

समाज में मान्यता के भूखे इंसानों की कोई कमी नहीं है। There is no shortage of people in society who are starved for recognition.

(samaaj men maanytaa ke bhookhe insaanon kii koii kamii nahiin hai।)

उसकी आँखों में एक अजीब सी भूख थी, जैसे वो ध्यान की भूखी हो। There was a strange hunger in her eyes, as if she were starved for attention.

(uskii aankhon men ek ajiib sii bhookh thii, jaise vo dhyaan kii bhookhii ho।)

Morphology

Adjective (variable)

(sg.m): भूखा (bhookhaa)

(pl.m): भूखे (bhookhe)

(sg.f): भूखी (bhookhii)

(pl.f): भूखी (bhookhii)