38 ways to express your feelings in English
How are you feeling today? Are you happy or sad? Chances are, you’re experiencing something a bit more specific — and you may not have the perfect word or phrase in English to describe it. Expressing your feelings in English is an essential part of learning the language, and it goes beyond the basics of “happy” and “sad.” To help you talk more deeply about your emotions in English, here are 38 words and phrases that span the spectrum from positive to negative.
Feeling happy because something good has happened or because you have accomplished something you set out to do.
by Laura Jones
Updated on October 7, 2024
- Positive feelings in English
- Negative feelings in English
- More English words for feelings
- Idioms for expressing feelings
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How it works
Positive feelings in English
1. Pleased
Example: Eleanor was pleased with her exam results.
2. Joyful
Feeling a great amount of happiness.
Example: Christmas was always a joyful time for our family.
3. Grateful
Feeling thankful for something you received or experienced.
Example: I’m really grateful that you agreed to help me organize the party.
4. Fulfilled
Feeling content because you have achieved or accomplished something important.
Example: I’m lucky to feel fulfilled in my job.
5. Optimistic
Feeling hopeful and confident about the future.
Example: Hamid is optimistic that he will find a job quickly.
6. Delighted
Feeling very happy.
Example: I was delighted to receive first prize for the essay I submitted.
7. Upbeat
Feeling positive.
Example: Despite losing the first match, we remained upbeat about winning the championship.
8. Peaceful
Feeling calm and quiet.
Example: Jennifer looked so peaceful sitting by the lake.
9. Blissful
Experiencing extreme happiness and/or profound contentment.
Example: Our honeymoon was blissful and we came home more in love than ever.
10. Euphoric
Feeling intense happiness and excitement.
Example: Tina was euphoric when Allie finally proposed to her.
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How it worksNegative feelings in English
11. Unhappy
Feeling sad; the opposite of happy.
Example: I was very unhappy when I didn’t get the promotion I wanted at work.
12. Angry
Having a strong feeling about something you don’t like or toward someone who behaves badly, often accompanied by the desire to express it in action or words.
Example: It makes me really angry when people treat animals badly.
13. Lonely
Feeling sad because you are alone.
Example: Piotr felt lonely when he moved to a new city where he didn’t know anyone.
14. Disappointed
Feeling unhappy because something did not meet your expectations or hopes.
Example: Kanako was disappointed when she didn't get the job she had applied for.
15. Annoyed
Feeling slightly angry.
Example: I get annoyed when my children don’t put their things away.
16. Frustrated
Feeling upset or annoyed because you can’t do something.
Example: He felt frustrated when he couldn't find his keys before leaving the house.
17. Anxious
Feeling worried or nervous about something that will or might happen.
Example: Ruth felt anxious before taking her driving test, as she worried she might fail.
18. Pessimistic
Expecting bad things will happen in the future.
Example: He was pessimistic about the chances of winning the game.
19. Miserable
Feeling very unhappy or uncomfortable.
Example: Alicia was miserable for weeks after her partner broke up with her.
20. Guilty
Feeling bad or ashamed because you did something wrong or hurt someone.
Example: I felt so guilty when I forgot my mom’s birthday.
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How it worksMore English words for feelings
21. Confused
Feeling like you can’t understand or make sense of something.
Example: I was confused about how to put the furniture together.
22. Embarrassed
Feeling ashamed or self-conscious, especially in a social situation.
Example: Jules was so embarrassed when she tripped and spilled her drink in front of everyone.
23. Satisfied
Feeling pleased because something happened how you wanted it to.
Example: I was satisfied with how the cake turned out.
24. Stressed
Feeling worried and unable to relax.
Example: Jin was stressed before giving his first public presentation.
25. Insecure
Having little confidence in yourself and your abilities.
Example: Like many teenagers, Donna felt insecure about her appearance when she was young.
26. Stunned
Feeling shocked to the point of being unable to speak.
Example: He was stunned when he was chosen as the first chair violinist in the orchestra.
27. Puzzled
Feeling confused, often because something is difficult to understand.
Example: I was puzzled when my wife burst into tears after I gave her a bunch of flowers.
28. Overwhelmed
Feeling unable to cope because you are experiencing too much of something, such as work or a particularly strong emotion.
Example: Amina was overwhelmed by the amount of homework she had to do.
29. Nostalgic
Feeling both happy and sad when you think about the past.
Example: Looking through old photo albums made Gladys feel nostalgic for her childhood.
30. Intrigued
Feeling interested in something and wanting to learn more about it.
Example: I was intrigued when my boss said she had an important announcement for us.
Idioms for expressing feelings
31. To be on cloud nine
To be extremely happy.
Example: I was on cloud nine when I learned I got into Harvard.
32. To be over the moon
To be delighted.
Example: I was over the moon when I got my dream job.
33. To be/feel down
To feel sad or depressed.
Example: After failing her entrance exam, Polly couldn't help but feel down.
34. To be/feel blue
To feel sad.
Example: Going for a walk with my dog usually cheers me up when I’m feeling blue.
35. To be/feel heavy-hearted
To feel very sad, almost as if there is a weight in your chest.
Example: I was heavy-hearted when I heard that my grandpa had passed away.
36. To have butterflies in your stomach
To feel nervous or anxious, especially about something coming up in the future.
Example: Charlie had butterflies in his stomach before the interview.
37. To have a lump in your throat
To feel emotional, usually with a tight feeling in your throat as if you might cry.
Example: When June retired, she had a lump in her throat as she said goodbye to her coworkers.
38. To see red
To become extremely angry.
Example: People who lie over and over make me see red.
Talk more about your feelings
Study the above vocabulary, and you should begin to feel more confident when attempting to express your feelings and emotions in English. Whether you’re joyful because you’ve passed an exam, angry about someone else’s behavior, puzzled over the meaning of something or have butterflies in your stomach, you’re equipped to talk about it all.
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How it worksLaura Jones
Laura is a freelance writer and was an ESL teacher for eight years. She was born in the UK and has lived in Australia and Poland, where she writes blogs for Lingoda about everything from grammar to dating English speakers. She’s definitely better at the first one. She loves travelling and that’s the other major topic that she writes on. Laura likes pilates and cycling, but when she’s feeling lazy she can be found curled up watching Netflix. She’s currently learning Polish, and her battle with that mystifying language has given her huge empathy for anyone struggling to learn English. Find out more about her work in her portfolio.
