Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Brazil): Estou com fome e quero comer algo agora. - I’m hungry and I want to eat something now.

Estou is the first person singular form of the verb estar (to be), and com fome literally means “with hunger.” So, the phrase translates to “I am hungry.” This construction is idiomatic in Portuguese, where feelings are often expressed as “being with” something (e.g., “com sono” for “sleepy”).

How is quero comer algo agora structured and what does each part mean?

Quero is the first person singular form of querer (to want). Comer is the infinitive form of “to eat.” Algo means “something,” and agora means “now.” Altogether, the phrase translates to “I want to eat something now.” This structure expresses a current desire paired with a planned action.

Why does Portuguese express hunger as “being with hunger” rather than simply “I am hungry”?

In Portuguese, expressions of physical or emotional states often use the construction estar com [noun]. Instead of directly translating to “I am hungry,” the language prefers the idiomatic “I am with hunger” (Estou com fome), which is a natural way to describe one’s physical state in Brazilian Portuguese.

Is it grammatically acceptable to join the two ideas with e (and) in this sentence?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable. The conjunction e is used to link related thoughts, just as it is in English. In the sentence, it connects the statement about being hungry with the immediate desire to eat, creating a coherent expression of the speaker’s condition and wish.

Can the sentence be rearranged while preserving its meaning?

Absolutely. For example, you could say Estou com fome, então quero comer algo agora which means “I’m hungry, so I want to eat something now.” Both versions effectively communicate the same idea, though the insertion of então explicitly emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship.