to go hungry / to hunger / to fast
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to go hungry
To suffer severe hunger because one does not have enough to eat over a longer period of time.
Aufgrund der Dürre hungern viele Menschen in der Region.
Due to the drought, many people in the region are going hungry.
The verb 'hungern' (to go hungry / to hunger) is derived directly from the noun 'der Hunger' (hunger). When you have the state of 'Hunger' (hunger), the corresponding action is 'hungern' (to go hungry / to hunger).
Nach einem langen Tag ohne Essen hatte ich großen Hunger.
After a long day without food, I was very hungry.
The meaning of 'hungern' depends on the context. When it is about poverty or a disaster, it means 'to involuntarily have nothing to eat.' In a medical or dietary context, it means 'to deliberately go without food.'
Wegen der schlechten Ernte hungert die Bevölkerung.
Because of the poor harvest, the population is going hungry.
In the figurative meaning, 'hungern' is always used with the preposition 'nach' and the dative. It describes a strong desire for something abstract.
Der junge Musiker hungert nach Erfolg und Anerkennung.
The young musician hungers for success and recognition.
to starve
'verhungern' and 'hungern' both have to do with severe hunger and not enough food. 'hungern' means to suffer severe hunger over a longer period of time. 'verhungern' is much stronger: it actually means to die from lack of food. In everyday speech, people sometimes say 'Ich verhungere' (I'm starving) as an exaggeration when they are very hungry. That is exactly why the words can be confused. In serious situations, 'verhungern' is only appropriate when danger to life or death is meant. For severe hunger without death, 'hungern' is a better fit.
Viele Menschen hungern, weil die Ernte in diesem Jahr sehr schlecht war.
Many people are going hungry because the harvest was very poor this year.
Ohne Hilfe würden die Tiere in dem verlassenen Stall verhungern.
Without help, the animals in the abandoned stable would starve.