noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective
Colloquial, often used by children or in casual speech. Emphasizes a strong, empty-stomach hunger.
See also: ぺこぺこ
I'm hungry. I'm starving.
The hungry kids gathered in the kitchen.
Variant with hiragana ぺこ; less common but seen.
All-kana spelling, common in casual writing.
All-katakana form; search-only variant.
Compound of 腹 (stomach) and ペコ, from the mimetic word ぺこぺこ (very hungry, or concave). The exact derivation is uncertain, but it likely emerged as a colloquial expression.