What it means
배 means "belly/stomach" and 고프다 means "to be empty/hungry". 배고파요 is the polite form. You'll hear this all the time in Korean food-culture content.
Nuance & when to use
Casual: 배고파 (baegopa). Very casual with close friends: 배고파 죽겠어 (I'm so hungry I could die — common hyperbole). Opposite: 배불러요 (I'm full).
⚠ Common mistake
Don't use the noun 배고픔 in conversation — always use the adjective form 배고파(요).
Example sentences
배고파요. 밥 먹어요.
Baegopayo. Bap meogeoyo.
I'm hungry. Let's eat.
너무 배고파서 뭐라도 먹어야 해.
Neomu baegopaseo mworaldo meogeoyo hae.
I'm so hungry I need to eat something.
배고프면 과자라도 먹어요.
Baegopeumeyon gwajararado meogeoyo.
If you're hungry, have some snacks.
See also
배불러요
먹고 싶어요
맛있어요
FAQ
When is this used?
Casual: 배고파 (baegopa). Very casual with close friends: 배고파 죽겠어 (I'm so hungry I could die — common hyperbole). Opposite: 배불러요 (I'm full).
What's a common mistake?
Don't use the noun 배고픔 in conversation — always use the adjective form 배고파(요).
Ready to learn more Korean?
Get one free Korean lesson every day — straight to your inbox.
Get Daily Korean Free →Free forever · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime