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How are you today?
Do you feel happy? Tired? Excited?
You can also feel overjoyed. Or anxious on the other hand.
Sometimes, it isn't easy to express your feelings in English, especially if you don't quite know how you are feeling.
It isn't rare that you feel baffled because you know the right words to express your emotions.
When it comes to finding the proper words and phrases to show your feelings, English learners can find it challenging, especially if you are a beginner.
That's why we are here to provide some emotional words and phrases that can help you express your feelings
After reading this post, practice in front of the mirror. Tell your reflection how you are feeling today.
And now, let's get started.
How to Express Your Feelings in English?
Human beings differ from other animals because they have different complex feelings and emotions.
Sometimes, that complexity of feelings is hard to express with words.
In many cases, your attitude and body language show your emotions.
But, here are some tips you would want to use so that you can be more confident when talking about emotions.
- Learn to express emotions with children’s songs in English. Kids are the most sincere human beings who can express their emotions without thinking about others or being ashamed when they show their feelings. Songs are an ideal resource because not only they show you how to express feelings but also teach you many other useful things in English.
- Start writing down your feelings. With several sentences, express your feelings every day. Describe your mood as best as possible. This way, you will improve your writing skills but also learn how to accumulate and name specific feelings.
- Watch movies. Besides enjoying movies, you can see how certain feelings are expressed and which words or phrases you have to use to name some feelings you have but you aren’t quite clear how to say them in English.
English Words to Express Your Positive Emotions
Happiness, joy, and all these positive emotions are something we all are looking forward to.
Besides them, here are some other words that express positive thoughts and emotions.
- Content
Meaning: to feel satisfied or happy and with the things, they are what they are at the current moment.
Example: She is content with her current life.
- Ecstatic
Meaning: to feel very, very happy. This is the biggest amount of happiness you can get.
Example: My mum was ecstatic when my dad gave her a trip to Venice as a birthday present.
- Hopeful
Meaning: when you want something to happen, for which there is a good chance
Example: I’m feeling hopeful about my new job.
- Excited
Meaning: to look forward to something with happiness and joy.
Example: Marry is excited to finally see her friend after three years.
- Loved
Meaning: when someone has true and strong feelings for you, he wants you all the best and cares for you. It means that you are loved.
Example: When I was ill, I felt that I was loved at home.
- Proud
Meaning: when you give your best effort and work really hard to finish successfully, and you succeed in it in the end, the final feeling is pride.
Example: I really worked on learning English and when I got recognition from the native speakers, I was really proud of myself.
- Tranquil
Meaning: to feel calm and peaceful
Example: I feel very tranquil after a long walk in the park.
English Words to Express When You Are Feeling Sad
We can’t be happy and satisfied every day. Sometimes we can feel bad. Even though it isn’t positive, that’s all normal. Here are some English words to describe your feelings when you are in a bad mood.
- Angry
Meaning: when you feel angry, you are mad, have a strong feeling about something, or are enraged.
Example: The boss was angry because all of his workers went on strike.
- Anxious
Meaning: you are worried or nervous about something, or when you are in an uncertain situation you might feel anxious.
Example: People are anxious about the future.
- Depressed
Meaning: when you feel very sad, and that feeling doesn’t go away but stays with you all the time and even gets stronger.
Example: When his mother passed away, my father was feeling depressed.
Meaning: when you don’t like something and that makes you sick or bad.
Example: I’m disgusted with how people behave today.
- Hurt
Meaning: when you feel pain, physically or mentally.
Example: Susan was hurt when her best friend forgot about her birthday.
- Lonely
Meaning: when you feel alone and/or sad, you feel loneliness. You don't have to necessarily be alone, you can feel lonely even if you have people around you.
Example: Even though the room is full of people, Tom is feeling lonely.
- Scared
Meaning: to feel full of fear or worry.
Example: When I woke up, I saw someone unknown and I got scared.
Other English Words For Expressing Feelings
- Baffled
Meaning: when you are completely confused and you don't know how to solve a problem.
Example: His baffled face told me everything.
- Indifferent
Meaning: when you don't feel nor good, nor bad. You completely have no interest. Lack of interest and enthusiasm.
Meaning: I'm indifferent about politics.
- Nostalgic
Meaning: when you are thinking about something that happened in the past and you wish you could return to it.
Example: I'm feeling nostalgic about the school days.
- Pensive
Meaning: when you are thinking deeply about something.
Example: Susan seemed pensive for a moment.
- Wistful
Meaning: to be deeply in your thoughts but in a sad way.
Example: After the accident, Tom was wistful for quite a while.
English Phrases to Express Emotions
The beauty of the English language, among other things, is in the possibility to use many different words to express your feelings.
Moreover, you can even use phrases.
Here are some feelings-related phrases you can use to express your emotions.
Positive Phrases
- Feeling high
Meaning: to be very happy
Example: I'm flying high after a successful day at work.
- Fool's paradise
Meaning: to be happy only because you ignore the real issue
Example: We should let Susan live in fool's paradise as long as possible.
- Pumped up
Meaning: when you are very excited about something.
Example: He's pumped up for tomorrow's performance.
Phrases For a Bad Mood
Meaning: to be very frightful, easily afraid. You can be afraid that easily that even your own shadow can be intimitating.
Example: Usually the people who seem to be the most confident are actually afraid of their own shadows
- To be down in bumps
Meaning: to be sad and hopeless
Example: Marry is down in bumps because of her exams.
- To be at the end of a rope
Meaning: when you can't deal with some difficult situations and you still feel upset about it.
Example: My friend is at the end of the rope.
Being Angry
- Bite someone's head off
Meaning: when you are very angry and you speak to someone that way even when there's no good reason for that.
Example: I know that you had a bad day but there is no need to bite my head off.
- Drive up the wall
Meaning: when you annoy someone
Example: My singing drives Tom up the wall.
Confused Emotions
- Ambivalent about
Meaning: when you feel two different things about someone. Those feelings can be both different, positive and negative at the same time.
Example: Tom was ambivalent about his breakup with Sarah.
- Feel out of it
Meaning: when you don't feel like you normally do.
Example: I don't know anyone at the gathering and I feel a little out of it.
- Puzzle over
Meaning: to think about something slowly and with a clear mind.
Example: I'm puzzled over that strange conversation between the two of us.
Final Thoughts
There are hundreds of English words with meanings that can help you describe your feelings.
You can always learn the new ones, even if you reach the advanced proficiency level, which is good because that way, you can constantly improve your vocabulary.
If you’re interested in expanding your English vocabulary even further, consider these excellent online learning resources: Kick off your journey with Babbel, offering user-friendly, engaging lessons tailored to fit seamlessly into your daily schedule. If you want something more in-depth, there's a great English course on Coursera that covers everything from the basics to more advanced topics. For a more personalized learning experience, connect with native English tutors on Preply, enhancing your speaking and comprehension skills. Take advantage of a 50% discount on your first Preply session by using this link.
How to Express Your Feelings in English?
Learn to express emotions with children’s songs in English. Kids are the most sincere human beings who can express their emotions without thinking about others or being ashamed when they show their feelings. Songs are an ideal resource because not only they show you how to express feelings but also teach you many other useful things in English. Start writing down your feelings. With several sentences, express your feelings every day. Describe your mood as best as possible. This way, you will improve your writing skills but also learn how to accumulate and name specific feelings. Watch movies. Besides enjoying movies, you can see how certain feelings are expressed and which words or phrases you have to use to name some feelings you have but you aren’t quite clear how to say them in English.
What are some phrases to express positive feelings in English?
Feeling high, Fool's paradise, Pumped up, Excited, Proud
What are some phrases to express negative feelings in English?
Angry, Depressed, Hurt, To be down in bumps, To be at the end of a rope
