A word first coined 1918, but rarely used today, may become a more frequently used part the English lexicon. That word is "hangry," which is a portmanteau the words "hungry" and "angry". It means to be bad tempered or irritable as a result hunger. The word is making a comeback because research that suggests "hanger" is a diagnosable feeling. Researchers believe "hangriness" could be a genuine medical phenomenon. Scientists the UK's Anglia Ruskin University examined how hunger affects emotions during our daily lives. Lead author Professor Viren Swami said the research indicated a strong link hunger and feelings anger, irritability, or low pleasure.
The researchers analysed data 64 volunteers aged 18 and 60. The participants had to complete surveys a smartphone app five times a day 21 days. The app helped people to give researchers real-time information their feelings when they were hungry. Dr Swami explained this provided a "meaningful" link hunger and emotions. He said: "The results the...study suggest that the experience being hangry is real." He added: "We show, the first time in a non-laboratory setting, that feeling hungry is associated greater anger, irritability and lower levels pleasure." He suggested that if people knew they were hangry, they could control their anger better.
