Table of contents
How do you express your feelings and emotions?
This vocabulary lesson covers common phrases that will help you express your feelings and emotions in English in various situations.
Test your feelings & emotions vocabulary
Quick overview of the quiz!
- There are 7 questions
- You can track your time as you progress
- You get instant feedback on your answers
- You can check your results and review your answers at the end
Time: 00:00
Which adjective means “very happy and excited”?
What is the synonym of “content”?
Choose the antonym of “miserable”.
Which of the following adjectives describes a person who is extremely angry but unable to express it?
When you can’t wait for something pleasant to happen, you are ________.
I feel __________ to have a high-paying job.
Which adjectives describe the feeling of being angry because of something unfair?
- Happy: "I'm really happy today!"
- Sad: "I feel sad because I didn’t pass the test."
- Angry: "I'm so angry about the situation!"
- Excited: "I’m excited for the trip!"
- Nervous: "I feel nervous about the interview."
Below is a list of 20 common adjectives you can use to express your feelings in English.
You’re in a good mood because something nice happened.
She is happy with her current job.
You feel down, usually because of a loss or disappointment.
He was sad to say goodbye to his friends.
A strong displeasure when something feels unfair or wrong.
The miners were angry about the unfair treatment.
When you’re excited, you can’t wait for something to happen because they are fun, special, or important.
The children were excited about their upcoming trip.
Your body gets tense when you’re unsure about something.
She felt nervous before her job interview.
When you’re anxious, you keep thinking about what might go wrong.
He was anxious about his test results.
It’s hard to make sense of what’s going on.
I was confused by the complicated instructions.
You want something to work, but it doesn’t, and that annoys you.
They were frustrated by the traffic jam.
Things didn’t go as you hoped.
She was disappointed when her team lost the match.
Something stressful is over, and you can finally relax.
He was relieved to find his lost wallet.
You feel good about what you or someone else has achieved.
She was proud of her accomplishments.
No one’s around, and you wish you had someone to talk to.
He felt lonely after the death of his wife.
You feel awkward because you made a mistake or did something silly.
She was embarrassed when she forgot her speech.
You really appreciate something or someone.
I am grateful for your help and support.
Something happens that you weren’t expecting.
He was surprised by the unexpected gift.
You believe that good things are possible, even if they’re not here yet.
We are hopeful that our financial situation will improve in the near future.
Nothing is interesting and time seems to pass slowly.
She was bored during the long meeting.
You wish (in a negative way) you had what someone else has.
He was jealous of his friend’s new car.
You know (or feel) you did something wrong, and it bothers you.
She felt guilty for missing the appointment.
There’s danger or uncertainty, and your body reacts with fear.
The loud noise made him feel scared.
Describing happiness
Happiness is a warm, positive feeling that brightens our days and brings smiles to the faces of those around us. Here are some common expressions you can use to express your happiness in English.
- I’m really happy.
- I’m on top of the world.
- That makes me so happy.
- I’m in a good mood.
- I’m on cloud nine!
- I’m over the moon!
- I’m thrilled to bits!
- I couldn’t be happier.
- I’m walking on air.
- I’m as happy as a clam.
- I’m grinning from ear to ear.
- I’m tickled pink.
- I’m on top of the world!
- I’m in seventh heaven.
- I’m jumping for joy!
- I’m in high spirits.
- I’m feeling fantastic.
- I’m beaming with happiness.
- I’m absolutely delighted.
Here is a list of adjectives that you can use to describe different levels of happiness. Click on the box to show the definition of the word.
Full of joy and happiness, often shown with enthusiasm.
It was joyful to celebrate my 90th birthday surrounded by so many friends and relatives.
Thrilled by something positive.
She was delighted with her birthday gift.
Comfortable with the current situation.
After a long day, he was content relaxing at home.
Showing a positive mood.
Her cheerful personality brightens the room.
Intense happiness or excitement.
She was ecstatic when she found out she got the job.
Overwhelmed by a sense of intense joy.
The euphoric crowd celebrated the team’s victory.
Uplifted and thrilled, usually after good news or success.
He was elated after winning the competition.
Showing great celebration, pride, or triumph.
The jubilant fans cheered on their team.
Extremely happy.
They spent a blissful week together on vacation.
Feeling satisfied.
She had a gleeful smile when she heard about her rival’s misfortune.
Expressing sadness
Sadness is a natural and normal human emotion. People are sad when they encounter various challenging situations in life. This may include experiencing a loss, such as the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or losing a job. There are various expressions you can use in English to express sadness, such as:
- I’m feeling down.
- I’m feeling blue.
- I’m a bit under the weather.
- I’m down in the dumps.
- I’m having a rough day.
- I’m feeling low.
- I’m not myself today.
- I’m feeling out of sorts.
- I’m in a bit of a funk.
- I’m feeling disheartened.
- My spirits are low.
- I’m feeling brokenhearted.
- I’m in a melancholic mood.
- I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.
- I’m feeling discouraged.
Here are common adjectives you can use to express sadness in English. Click on each box to show the word’s definition.
You feel deeply low and hopeless.
He’s been feeling depressed since he lost his job.
You’re really unhappy — everything feels uncomfortable or unpleasant.
The constant rain made everyone feel miserable.
A sad or grey mood, like when the weather matches how you feel inside.
The dark clouds made the day feel gloomy.
You carry a deep sadness, often caused by loss or regret.
She felt sorrowful after hearing the sad news.
So upset it feels like your heart is in pieces.
She was heartbroken when her relationship ended.
You feel shocked, sad or disappointed — often because things went badly.
He was dismayed by the outcome of the election.
You’ve lost hope and feel like nothing will work out.
After several failed attempts, he felt despondent about ever succeeding.
You feel abandoned, lonely, and hopeless — like no one is coming.
The forlorn puppy waited at the shelter for someone to adopt him.
Your eyes and spirit both drop — you're sad or discouraged.
She felt downcast after her team lost the championship game.
You’ve lost your drive because things didn’t go your way.
The team was disheartened by their unexpected loss.
Extremely sad — like something weighs heavily on your heart.
Her woeful expression revealed how deeply the news affected her.
The kind of sadness that makes you feel like grieving.
The mournful song reminded her of her past.
You look or sound as if something really hurt your heart.
His doleful eyes conveyed his deep sadness.
You’re down, disappointed, and it shows on your face.
She felt dejected after her hard work went unnoticed.
A quiet, dark, and serious kind of sadness — often felt in formal or heavy moments.
The atmosphere at the funeral was somber.
When everything feels dull, grey, and heavy — like the joy’s been sucked out.
The endless rain made the day feel dreary.
You sound or look extremely sad, in a dramatic or poetic way.
The poet’s lugubrious verses reflected his inner turmoil.
You’ve run out of motivation and everything feels a bit pointless.
The dispirited employees struggled to find motivation.
Expressing anger
Anger is a natural and powerful human emotion that arises when we perceive injustice, threat, or frustration. People may feel angry when their expectations are not met, when they are treated unfairly, or when they experience a perceived attack on themselves or their loved ones. In English, there are numerous expressions you can use to convey anger, such as:
- I’m really frustrated right now.
- This situation is infuriating me.
- I’m so annoyed at the moment.
- I can’t stand this anymore.
- This is driving me up the wall.
- I’m absolutely livid!
- I’m really furious.
- I’m fuming with anger.
- This makes my blood boil.
- I’m seething with rage.
- I’m at the end of my rope.
- This is getting under my skin.
- I’m about to lose my temper.
- I’m at my wit’s end.
- I’m fit to be tied.
- This is really rubbing me the wrong way.
You can use the following adjectives to express anger in English. Click on the box to show the definition of the word.
Showing strong anger that’s hard to contain.
His irate response surprised everyone in the room.
Boiling with anger — completely outraged.
She was furious when she discovered the truth.
Taken over by violent or uncontrollable anger.
He became enraged when he found out he was being lied to.
Angry because something feels unjust or offensive.
She was indignant about the accusations made against her.
Holding on to bitterness about unfair treatment.
He felt resentful after being overlooked for the promotion.
Restless or upset — your body shows what your mind feels.
His agitated state was a clear indication of his anger.
So angry you feel insulted or deeply offended.
She was incensed by the blatant disregard for her feelings.
Extremely furious — almost speechless with rage.
He was livid when he discovered his car had been vandalised.
Quiet on the outside, but full of hidden anger inside.
She remained silent but was seething inside.
Easily annoyed or quick to snap at others.
He was irritable all day due to a lack of sleep.
A mild kind of anger — annoyed or slightly upset.
She was cross with him for not helping with the chores.
Frustrated or annoyed — something just keeps bothering you.
He was vexed by the constant interruptions.
Fed up and intensely frustrated.
She was exasperated by his lack of cooperation.
A powerful mix of shock and anger — usually after injustice.
The community was outraged by the injustice they witnessed.
Anger has pushed your patience to the limit.
He was infuriated by the constant delays and setbacks.
Expressing fear
Fear is a natural and instinctive human emotion that arises in response to perceived danger, threat, or uncertainty. People may feel fear when they face unfamiliar situations, confront potential harm, or encounter situations that challenge their sense of safety or well-being. There are various expressions you can use to express fear in English, such as:
- I’m scared.
- I’m frightened.
- I’m terrified.
- I’m petrified.
- I’m afraid of...(e.g., I am afraid of spiders.)
- That gives me the creeps.
- I have a fear of...(e.g., I have a fear of snakes.)
- I’m spooked.
- I’m shaking like a leaf.
- My heart is racing.
- I’m trembling with fear.
- I’m alarmed.
- I’m horrified.
- I’m panicking.
- My palms are sweating.
You can use the following adjectives to express fear in English. Click on the box to show the definition of the word.
Scared by something sudden or unexpected.
She was frightened by the sudden loud noise.
So afraid that you feel frozen and unable to move.
She was petrified when she saw the snake.
Worried about what might happen next.
She was anxious about her job interview.
Nervous or unsure about the near future.
He was apprehensive about the outcome of the meeting.
Slightly nervous or uncomfortable about something.
She felt uneasy walking alone at night.
Overcome by sudden fear or anxiety.
She was in a panicked state after hearing the news.
Shocked and scared by something awful.
They were horrified by the gruesome scene.
Upset or anxious because something is wrong.
He was distressed about his friend’s accident.
Tight with worry or nerves, hard to relax.
She was tense before her presentation.
Suddenly aware of danger or trouble.
She was alarmed by the sound of breaking glass.
Deeply scared, like facing your worst fear.
He was terrified of the dark.
Nervous or discouraged by something that seems too difficult.
She was daunted by the challenge.
How to ask about someone else’s feeling in English?
It’s important to show interest in how others feel. You can use the phrases below to ask someone about their feeling:
- How are you feeling?
- Are you okay?
- Is everything okay with you?
- Is everything alright?
- You look sad, what’s the matter?
- You seem upset, what’s wrong?
- Is there anything bothering you?
- Is everything alright with you?
