How to express feelings in English?

Knowing how to express your feelings in English helps you communicate clearly and naturally. In this guide, we’ll cover common phrases that will help you express your feelings in English in various situations. Let’s start with the basic adjectives to describe emotions in English.

  1. Happy: "I'm really happy today!"
  2. Sad: "I feel sad because I didn’t pass the test."
  3. Angry: "I'm so angry about the situation!"
  4. Excited: "I’m excited for the trip!"
  5. Nervous: "I feel nervous about the interview."

Below is a list of 20 common adjectives you can use to express feelings in English.

Adjective Meaning Example sentence
Happy Feeling pleasure or contentment She is happy with her current job.
Sad Feeling sorrow or unhappiness He was sad to say goodbye to his friends.
Angry Feeling strong displeasure or hostility The miners were angry about the unfair treatment.
Excited Feeling enthusiastic or eager The children were excited about their upcoming trip.
Nervous Feeling anxious or worried She felt nervous before her job interview.
Anxious Feeling worried or uneasy He was anxious about his test results.
Confused Unable to think clearly or understand I was confused by the complicated instructions.
Frustrated Feeling upset or annoyed due to the inability to achieve something you want They were frustrated by the traffic jam.
Disappointed Feeling sad or displeased due to unfulfilled expectations She was disappointed when her team lost the match.
Relieved Feeling reassured or relaxed after anxiety He was relieved to find his lost wallet.
Proud Feeling satisfied by one’s achievements She was proud of her accomplishments.
Lonely Feeling sad due to the lack of companionship He felt lonely after the death of his wife.
Embarrassed Feeling ashamed She was embarrassed when she forgot her speech.
Grateful Feeling thankful or appreciative I am grateful for your help and support.
Surprised Feeling astonished or amazed He was surprised by the unexpected gift.
Hopeful Feeling optimistic about the future We are hopeful that our financial situation will improve in the near future.
Bored Feeling uninterested or unhappy because you do not have anything exciting to do She was bored during the long meeting.
Jealous Feeling upset over someone else’s success He was jealous of his friend’s new car.
Guilty Remorseful She felt guilty for missing the appointment.
Scared Frightened or worried 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.

Happy child image
  1. I’m really happy.
  2. I’m on top of the world.
  3. That makes me so happy.
  4. I’m in a good mood.
  5. I’m on cloud nine!
  6. I’m over the moon!
  7. I’m thrilled to bits!
  8. I couldn’t be happier.
  9. I’m walking on air.
  10. I’m as happy as a clam.
  11. I’m grinning from ear to ear.
  12. I’m tickled pink.
  13. I’m on top of the world!
  14. I’m in seventh heaven.
  15. I’m jumping for joy!
  16. I’m in high spirits.
  17. I’m feeling fantastic.
  18. I’m beaming with happiness.
  19. 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.

Click using a mouse picture
joyful
delighted
content
cheerful
ecstatic
euphoric
elated
blissful
gleeful
exuberant
radiant
thrilled
exhilarated
merry
overjoyed
enthusiastic
lighthearted
satisfied

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:

Photo of a girl feeling sad.
  1. I’m feeling down.
  2. I’m feeling blue.
  3. I’m a bit under the weather.
  4. I’m down in the dumps.
  5. I’m having a rough day.
  6. I’m feeling low.
  7. I’m not myself today.
  8. I’m feeling out of sorts.
  9. I’m in a bit of a funk.
  10. I’m feeling disheartened.
  11. My spirits are low.
  12. I’m feeling brokenhearted.
  13. I’m in a melancholic mood.
  14. I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.
  15. 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.

Click using a mouse picture
melancholy
depressed
miserable
gloomy
sorrowful
heartbroken
dismayed
despondent
forlorn
downcast
disheartened
woeful
mournful
doleful
dejected
sombre
dreary
lugubrious
dispirited

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:

Photo of a girl feeling angry.
  1. I’m really frustrated right now.
  2. This situation is infuriating me.
  3. I’m so annoyed at the moment.
  4. I can’t stand this anymore.
  5. This is driving me up the wall.
  6. I’m absolutely livid!
  7. I’m really furious.
  8. I’m fuming with anger.
  9. This makes my blood boil.
  10. I’m seething with rage.
  11. I’m at the end of my rope.
  12. This is getting under my skin.
  13. I’m about to lose my temper.
  14. I’m at my wit’s end.
  15. I’m fit to be tied.
  16. 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.

Click using a mouse picture
irate
furious
enraged
indignant
resentful
agitated
incensed
livid
seething
irritable
cross
vexed
exasperated
outraged
infuriated

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:

feeling scared photo
  1. I’m scared.
  2. I’m frightened.
  3. I’m terrified.
  4. I’m petrified.
  5. I’m afraid of...(e.g., I am afraid of spiders.)
  6. That gives me the creeps.
  7. I have a fear of...(e.g., I have a fear of snakes.)
  8. I’m spooked.
  9. I’m shaking like a leaf.
  10. My heart is racing.
  11. I’m trembling with fear.
  12. I’m alarmed.
  13. I’m horrified.
  14. I’m panicking.
  15. 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.

Click using a mouse picture
frightened
petrified
anxious
apprehensive
uneasy
panicked
horrified
distressed
tense
alarmed
terrified
daunted

How to ask about someone else’s feelings in English?

It’s important to show interest in how others feel. You can use the phrases below to ask someone about their feelings:

  1. How are you feeling?
  2. Are you okay?
  3. Is everything okay with you?
  4. Is everything alright?
  5. You look sad, what’s the matter?
  6. You seem upset, what’s wrong?
  7. Is there anything bothering you?
  8. Is everything alright with you?
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