Tu as --> you have (avoir) Tu es --> you are (être) Your examples: Tu as faim --> you have hunger Tu es content --> you are happy It's kind of based on what "makes sense". The more you speak the more of a feel you'll get for knowing which to use. As others have pointed out, the verb "faim" means hunger. In English, you have hunger, so in this case, it is a direct translation. An example I remember is that you can say "J'ai fini..." as in "I have finished..." this project. But, saying "Je suis fini..." makes no sense because you are saying that you are finished, as in you are dead... In a way, French is more literal. The difference is important but don't worry because you'll get it with exposure and practice, over time. I hope this helps :)

As Peachey says, we can't expect other languages to work in exactly the same way as English does, or to be able to translate every phrase word for word from English to French or vice versa. The translation of the concept of 'needing to eat' is a case in point. The word 'faim' does not mean 'hungry' - it means 'hunger'. So it's logical that this follows the verb 'have' not 'be' - literally 'I have hunger'. Other common phrases where the ideas are expressed by adjectives in English but nouns in French are: J'ai soif - literally 'I have thirst' = 'I'm thirsty' J'ai froid - literally 'I have cold(ness) = 'I'm/ I feel cold' J'ai chaud - literally 'I have heat' = 'I'm/ I feel hot' J'ai sommeil - literally 'I have sleep(iness) = 'I'm tired/sleepy' And don't forget that ages are giving in French with the verb 'have', rather than the verb 'be' - J'ai vingt ans = I "have" twenty years. The more French you hear, the more these phrases will seem natural to you.

I think the confusion lies in expecting French phrases to work exactly the same way as English phrases. However "faim" is a noun, so we treat it like one: "Tu as faim" = "You have hunger". I don't think there's any confusion in your mind about "as/es". :) Interestingly, English is unusual in that it uses an adjective when you want to say that you really want to eat. French is hardly the only language in which hunger is something you "have" - you can "have hunger" in quite a few European languages. Just remember it as a quaint difference between how speakers naturally express themselves and try not to analyse it too much.

I'm not a native french speaker, but I study the language. Well in french we say: I have hunger (J'ai faim), the verb avoir is used in all those cases. For example: I'm cold (J'ai froid), I'm thirsty (J'ai soif). (You should take a look at that). And "Tu es content" (You are happy) You cannot say "You have happy" well it works the same in french. I'm not an expert but I hope that helps :)