Spanish word

hambruna

Pronunciation

IPA/amˈbɾuna/

Meaning

  • feminine nounfamine

Example

La hambruna afectó a la región.

The famine affected the region.

Illustration for hambruna (famine)

More examples

Los voluntarios luchan contra la hambruna en las zonas rurales.

Volunteers fight against the famine in rural areas.

Core concept

Mass lack of food across a population resulting in severe deprivation.

Common phrases

  • luchar contra la hambruna

    fight against famine

  • zonas afectadas por la hambruna

    areas affected by famine

Similar words

hambre: Strong bodily hunger marked by stomach pangs and weakness that prompts immediate eating.
escasez: Not enough supplies or food in a place, causing limited availability and access.
desnutrición: Ongoing insufficient nutrition that weakens the body and stunts development over time.

Definition in Spanish

Situación extrema en la que una región padece escasez masiva de alimentos y la población sufre hambre generalizada.

Word origin

Derived from hambre plus the suffix -una to indicate a collective crisis, with the root hambre coming from Latin fames.

Usage tips

  • Hambruna signals an extreme, often humanitarian situation and is not used for feeling hungry or for minor shortages.

Other meanings

  • starvationnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word