Describing feelings and emotions in English

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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:

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.

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:

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.

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?