Avoir un petit creux

Avoir un petit creux
Share / Tweet / Pin Me!

Informal French Expression

Meaningto be a little hungry/peckish, to have the munchies
Literallyto have a little hollow
Registerinformal
Pronunciation [ah vwah roo(n) p(eu) tee creu]
IPA  [a vwa ʁÅ“̃ pə ti kʁø]

Usage notes: Instead of talking about "being hungry," the French say they have hunger: avoir faim. This grammar is maintained in the expression avoir un petit creux; literally, "to have a little hollow (in one’s stomach)." What it really means is "to be a little hungry."

Par exemple…

Tiens, j’ai un petit creux. Allons au bistrot à côté du parc. Hey, I’m a little hungry. Let’s go to the bistro next to the park.

Variation: avoir un creux (dans l’estomac)

  Creux is a noun in these expressions, but it can also be an adjective meaning "empty" or "hollow":

  • le ventre creux – empty stomach
  • un arbre creux – hollow tree

 Related lessons

 Share / Tweet / Pin Me!

Avoir un petit creux

  Lawless French Files:  

Stay up to date with Lawless French

Questions about French?

 Ask me in the comments section below or visit the Progress with Lawless French Q+A forum to get help from native French speakers and fellow learners.
 

More Lawless French

 Subscribe to my twice-weekly newsletter.
      

Support Lawless French

  This free website is created with love and a great deal of work.

If you love it, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation.

Your support is entirely optional but tremendously appreciated.