French Phrase
Ouais, je crève de faim !
Meaning
Literally ‘Yeah, I’m dying of hunger!’ – a very informal way to say you’re extremely hungry. The expression uses hyperbole (*crever* = ‘to die’) to stress the intensity of the feeling.
When to use
Use this phrase with friends, family, or peers in relaxed settings – for example when you’re waiting for a meal or after a long walk. It’s too colloquial for formal situations or with strangers you don’t know well.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ouais,jecrèvedefaim!
Ouais
Informal equivalent of ‘oui’, used in casual conversation. It conveys a relaxed agreement or affirmation.
je
Subject pronoun meaning ‘I’. Always placed before the verb in French.
crève
Third‑person singular present of the verb *crever* (to die). In colloquial French it means ‘to be extremely hungry’ (literally ‘to die of …’).
de faim
Prepositional phrase meaning ‘of hunger’. After *crever* the preposition *de* introduces the cause.
Punctuation
The comma after *Ouais* creates a short pause, and the exclamation mark signals strong emotion.
🗨In Conversation
Ouais, je crève de faim !
Yeah, I’m starving!
On va commander une pizza alors ?
Shall we order a pizza then?
✕Common Mistakes
Je suis crève de faim.
The verb *crever* is conjugated, not used as an adjective. Use *je crève*.
Ouaï, je crève de faim !
The correct spelling is *ouais*; adding an accent changes the word entirely.
Je crève faim.
Do not drop the preposition *de*; *crève faim* is ungrammatical.
↔Alternatives
J'ai très faim.
I’m very hungry.
Je meurs de faim.
I’m dying of hunger.
Je suis affamé.
I’m famished.
Cultural Tip
In France, *ouais* is considered slang and is mostly heard among young people or in informal media. Using *ouais* in a professional email would be seen as inappropriate. The expression *crever de faim* dates back to the 19th century and is still popular in everyday speech, especially in the south of France where hyperbolic food‑related expressions are common.