Avoir un petit creux

Expression: avoir un petit creux

Pronunciation: [a vwa roo(n) p(eu) tee creu]

Meaning: to be a little hungry/peckish, to have the munchies

Literal translation: to have a little hollow

Register: informal

Notes: Like avoir faim (the French translation of "to be hungry"), the French expression avoir un (petit) creux requires the verb avoir rather than être. In this case, though, it feels a little more logical: it makes sense that your slight hunger is caused by having a little hollow space in your stomach.

Example

   J'ai un petit creux - t'as envie de commander une pizza ?
   I'm kind of hungry - want to order a pizza?

Variation: avoir un creux (dans l'estomac)

Note that creux is also an adjective - "empty stomach" is le ventre creux.

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More: expressions with avoir