French Phrase
Ouais, je meurs de faim !
Meaning
Literally “Yeah, I’m dying of hunger!”, this phrase is a very informal way to say you’re extremely hungry. It’s used among friends, in casual settings, and often with a playful tone.
When to use
Use it when you’re chatting with peers, family, or anyone you’re comfortable being informal with. Avoid it in formal situations, business meetings, or when speaking to strangers you want to impress.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ouais,jemeursdefaim!
Ouais (informal affirmation)
A colloquial equivalent of “oui”, used mainly in spoken, informal French. It conveys a relaxed, friendly tone.
Mourir de + noun (idiom)
Literally “to die of …”, this construction expresses an extreme feeling (hunger, thirst, boredom, etc.). The verb is conjugated normally (je meurs).
de faim (preposition)
The preposition “de” links the idiom to the cause (faim = hunger). It never becomes “du” in this expression.
Punctuation in spoken French
Commas and exclamation marks are kept in writing to reflect the pause and strong emotion of the spoken phrase.
🗨In Conversation
Ouais, je meurs de faim !
Yeah, I’m starving!
On va commander une pizza ?
Shall we order a pizza?
✕Common Mistakes
Je suis mort de faim.
The idiom uses the verb mourir, not être. Use “je meurs de faim”.
Ouais, je meurs du faim.
The preposition is “de”, never “du” in this expression.
Ouais, je meurs faim.
You need the preposition “de” to link the cause.
↔Alternatives
J'ai très faim.
I’m very hungry.
Je crève la dalle.
I’m famished.
Je suis affamé.
I’m famished.
Je meurs de faim, on mange ?
I’m starving, shall we eat?
Cultural Tip
The idiom “mourir de faim” is common across all French‑speaking regions, but the slang “ouais” is especially typical of younger speakers and urban areas. In a formal context you’d replace “ouais” with “oui” or simply omit it, and you might say “J’ai très faim” instead of the idiom.