Your English vocabulary about emotions might be limited, making it difficult to express and share your feelings accurately during conversations. Do you want to describe the emotions of a character in a movie you watched with friends or colleagues but don't know which words to use? Let VietSeeds help you list words that express emotions in English, making it easier to communicate with a rich English vocabulary about emotions below.
Contents list
1. Words to Describe Human Emotions in English
1.1 English Vocabulary for Positive Emotions
Apart from words like "happy" or "great" that express joy, excitement, or happiness, what other words can describe emotions in English? To discover many more words that convey positive emotions in English, let’s explore these adjectives below!
- Excited (/ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/): thrilled, enthusiastic
- Amused (/əˈmjuːzd/): cheerful
- Ecstatic (/ɪkˈstætɪk/): extremely happy
- Delighted (/dɪˈlaɪtɪd/): very happy
- Confident (/ˈkɒnfɪdənt/): self-assured
- Surprised (/səˈpraɪzd/): amazed
- Enthusiastic (/ɪnˌθjuːziˈæstɪk/): passionate
- Great (/ɡreɪt/): excellent
- Happy (/ˈhæpi/): joyful
- Over the moon (/ˈəʊvə(r) ðə muːn/): elated
- Overjoyed (/ˌəʊvəˈdʒɔɪd/): incredibly happy
- Positive (/ˈpɒzətɪv/): optimistic
- Relaxed (/rɪˈlækst/): calm, at ease
- Wonderful (/ˈwʌndəf(ə)l/): amazing
- Terrific (/təˈrɪfɪk/): fantastic
1.2 English Vocabulary for Negative Emotions
Not every moment is filled with joy. Sometimes, we encounter unpleasant situations or fall into states of anger, anxiety, confusion, or even disappointment. So, what are some English words to describe negative emotions? Let’s explore some of these words below!
- Sad (/sæd/): sad
- Scared (/skeəd/): scared
- Angry (/ˈæŋɡri/): angry
- Anxious (/ˈæŋkʃəs/): anxious
- Annoyed (/əˈnɔɪd/): annoyed
- Appalled (/əˈpɔːld/): shocked
- Horrified (/ˈhɒrɪfaɪd/): terrified
- Apprehensive (/ˌæprɪˈhensɪv/): slightly worried
- Nervous (/ˈnɜːvəs/): nervous
- Arrogant (/ˈærəɡənt/): arrogant
- Unhappy (/ʌnˈhæpi/): unhappy
- Ashamed (/əˈʃeɪmd/): ashamed
- Bewildered (/bɪˈwɪldəd/): very confused
- Malicious (/məˈlɪʃəs/): malicious
- Negative (/ˈnɛɡətɪv/): negative, pessimistic
- Overwhelmed (/ˌəʊvəˈwelmd/): overwhelmed
- Reluctant (/rɪˈlʌktənt/): unwilling
- Seething (/ˈsiːðɪŋ/): very angry but hiding it
- Stressed (/strest/): stressed
- Tired (/ˈtaɪəd/): tired
- Suspicious (/səˈspɪʃəs/): suspicious
- Terrible (/ˈterəbl/): terrible, awful
- Terrified (/ˈterɪfaɪd/): terrified
- Tense (/tens/): tense
- Thoughtful (/ˈθɔːtfəl/): thoughtful
- Upset (/ˌʌpˈset/): upset, angry, or unhappy
- Victimised (/ˈvɪktɪmaɪzd/): feeling like a victim
- Worried (/ˈwʌrɪd/): worried
- Bored (/bɔːd/): bored
- Confused (/kənˈfjuːzd/): confused
- Depressed (/dɪˈprest/): very sad
- Disappointed (/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/): disappointed
- Emotional (/ɪˈməʊʃənl/): easily affected by emotions
- Envious (/ˈenviəs/): envious, jealous
- Embarrassed (/ɪmˈbærəst/): embarrassed
- Frightened (/ˈfraɪtnd/): frightened
- Frustrated (/frʌˈstreɪtɪd/): frustrated
- Let down (/let daʊn/): disappointed
- Nonplussed (/ˌnɒnˈplʌst/): shocked to the point of not knowing what to do
- Furious (/ˈfjʊəriəs/): angry, furious
- Hurt (/hɜːt/): hurt, in pain
- Irritated (/ˈɪrɪteɪtɪd/): irritated, annoyed
- Intrigued (/ɪnˈtriːɡd/): curious
- Jealous (/ˈdʒeləs/): jealous
- Cheated (/tʃiːtɪd/): cheated
- Jaded (/ˈdʒeɪdɪd/): bored or tired of something
2. Common Idioms for Emotions in English
To help you easily use adjectives to describe emotions in English during conversations, here are some emotional idioms. These will partially enrich your vocabulary for application in daily communication.
Over the moon: extremely happy, ecstatic
Example: She was over the moon when Tim gave her a diamond ring. (She was extremely happy when Tim gave her a diamond ring.)
Thrilled to bits: very delighted
Example: My mother was thrilled to bits with my results at school. (My mom was very pleased with my school achievements.)
On cloud nine: blissfully happy
Example: When they got married, they were on cloud nine for several months. (When they got married, they were as happy as if they were on cloud nine for months.)
To live in a fool’s paradise: living in unrealistic happiness
This phrase refers to someone who is happy but unaware or unwilling to accept reality, which is actually challenging. Example: Stop living in a fool’s paradise, you know that you cannot leave the problem to be solved itself. (Stop living in an illusion, you know that you cannot leave the issue unsolved!)
To puzzle over: to worry or think deeply about something over time
Example: He’s still puzzled over the strange phone call at midnight. (He is still trying to understand the strange phone call at midnight.)
Be ambivalent about: to feel conflicting emotions, both love and dislike
Example: Kevin was ambivalent about taking the offer to move to Vietnam. (Kevin was unsure whether to accept the offer to move to Vietnam or not.)
Be at the end of your rope: to be out of patience or at your limit
Example: When Helen discovered she had breast cancer, she was at the end of her rope. (When Helen found out she had breast cancer, she felt completely helpless and defeated.) To bite someone’s head off: to respond angrily or rudely to someone Example: He was so kind to offer to help you, and look what you do? – you didn’t have to bite his head off! (He kindly offered to help, and what did you do? You didn’t need to get so angry at him!)
Be in black mood: to feel upset or grumpy, unwilling to talk
Example: Don’t keep walking around me! I’m in a black mood today. (Don’t walk around me anymore! I’m feeling really upset today.)
Be petrified of: to feel extremely scared or terrified
Example: Anna is petrified of dogs. (Anna is very scared of dogs.)
3. Sample Sentences on the Topic of Emotions in English
Emotions are one of the most common topics when communicating with friends. With the vocabulary about emotions in English mentioned earlier, let’s explore some sample sentences to learn how to use them. Read and understand the examples below to describe your emotions and others’!
Examples of sentences about emotions in English:
- I feel tired/ unhappy/angry/irriatted/happy… now
I feel tired/unhappy/angry/irritated/happy... now.
- Marry said that she got nervous when she takes the driver’s licence test
(Marry said she gets nervous when she takes the driver’s test.)
- He looks confident before he does the test
(He looks confident before he takes the test.)
- My sister looks estatic in her wedding and I feel so happy about that
(My sister looks extremely happy on her wedding day, and I feel very happy about it.)
- Anthony did not go to class because he was sick
Anthony did not go to class because he was sick
- Lan feels worried about her Math exam in the last week
Lan feels worried about her Math exam in the last week
- Some women are too embarrassed to consult their doctor about the problem
Some women are too embarrassed to consult their doctor about the problem
- This is a wonderful opportunity to invest in new markets
This is a wonderful opportunity to invest in new markets
- He was furious with himself for letting things get so out of control
He was furious with himself for letting things get so out of control
- She plays the role of a bored housewife
She plays the role of a bored housewife
