36 English Words to Express Emotions: A Practical Guide for English Learners

Introduction

Talking about feelings in English can be tricky. You might know "happy" and "sad," but what about when you're feeling more than just basic emotions? What if you're excited but also nervous? Or disappointed but trying to stay positive?

Here's the thing: native speakers use a wide range of emotion words to describe exactly how they feel. Learning these words won't just expand your vocabulary—it'll help you connect with people on a deeper level and express yourself more clearly in conversations, emails, and even casual chats.

So here are 36 emotion words that'll help you communicate your feelings like a native speaker. Each one comes with examples and tips to make them stick in your memory.

Positive Emotions

1. Thrilled

Meaning: Extremely excited and happy about something.

This word is stronger than "happy" or "excited." Use it when something really amazing happens.

Examples:

• I'm thrilled to hear you got the job!
• She was thrilled when she found out she passed the exam.
• They're absolutely thrilled about their new baby.

Tip: Think of "thrill" like a roller coaster ride—it's that intense feeling of excitement.

2. Delighted

Meaning: Very pleased and happy about something.

This is a polite, warm way to show happiness. You'll hear it a lot in formal situations or when someone wants to sound especially friendly.

Examples:

• We're delighted to welcome you to our team.
• I'd be delighted to help you with that project.
• She looked delighted when she opened the gift.

Tip: British speakers use this word more often than Americans. It sounds a bit fancy, but not stuffy.

3. Content

Meaning: Peacefully happy and satisfied with what you have.

This isn't about jumping-for-joy happiness. It's more like a calm, comfortable feeling.

Examples:

• After a good meal, I feel content.
• He seems content with his simple life in the countryside.
• She's content just reading books on weekends.

Tip: Don't confuse this with "content" (the stuff inside something). The emotion word is pronounced with stress on the second syllable: con-TENT.

4. Grateful

Meaning: Feeling thankful and appreciative.

Use this when someone does something nice for you or when you recognize how lucky you are.

Examples:

• I'm so grateful for your help yesterday.
• She's grateful to have such supportive friends.
• We should be grateful for what we have.

Tip: Pair it with "for" (grateful for something) or "to" (grateful to someone).

5. Relieved

Meaning: Feeling better after stress or worry goes away.

Think of it as that "phew!" moment when something bad didn't happen or a problem gets solved.

Examples:

• I was so relieved when the doctor said everything was fine.
• He felt relieved after submitting his final assignment.
• She's relieved that the difficult conversation is over.

Tip: Notice how "relieved" often comes after a stressful situation ends.

6. Optimistic

Meaning: Hopeful and positive about the future.

Optimistic people see the bright side of things and believe good outcomes are possible.

Examples:

• Despite the setback, I'm still optimistic about our chances.
• She's optimistic that she'll find a better job soon.
• He has an optimistic outlook on life.

Tip: The opposite is "pessimistic"—that's when you expect things to go wrong.

7. Proud

Meaning: Feeling pleased about your own or someone else's achievements.

You feel proud when you or someone you care about does something well.

Examples:

• I'm really proud of how hard you studied.
• She's proud to be part of this organization.
• My parents are proud of my progress.

Tip: You can be "proud of" someone or something. Just don't overuse it about yourself—it might sound like bragging!

8. Ecstatic

Meaning: Extremely happy, almost overwhelmingly joyful.

This is one of the strongest positive emotions. Use it when you're over-the-moon happy.

Examples:

• She was ecstatic when she got accepted to her dream university.
• The fans were ecstatic after their team won the championship.
• I'd be ecstatic if that happened to me!

Tip: Think "ec-STAT-ic" for pronunciation. It's bigger than "thrilled" or "delighted."

9. Inspired

Meaning: Feeling motivated and full of creative ideas.

When something makes you want to do better or create something, you feel inspired.

Examples:

• That documentary really inspired me to travel more.
• She feels inspired after attending the workshop.
• His story inspired many young entrepreneurs.

Tip: You're usually inspired "by" something or someone.

Negative Emotions

10. Frustrated

Meaning: Feeling annoyed because you can't do something or things aren't working.

This is that feeling when you're stuck and nothing seems to help.

Examples:

• I'm frustrated with this computer—it keeps crashing.
• He gets frustrated when people don't listen to him.
• She felt frustrated after failing the test twice.

Tip: Frustration comes from obstacles or repeated failures, not just one-time annoyances.

11. Disappointed

Meaning: Sad because something didn't meet your expectations.

You hoped for one thing, but got something less.

Examples:

• I was disappointed that the movie wasn't as good as I expected.
• She's disappointed in herself for giving up.
• They're disappointed with the results.

Tip: Use "disappointed in" for people and "disappointed with/by" for things or situations.

12. Anxious

Meaning: Worried and nervous about something that might happen.

It's that uneasy feeling in your stomach when you're not sure what's coming next.

Examples:

• I always feel anxious before exams.
• She's anxious about the job interview tomorrow.
• He gets anxious in crowded places.

Tip: "Anxious" is stronger than "nervous" and suggests ongoing worry, not just butterflies in your stomach.

13. Overwhelmed

Meaning: Feeling like there's too much to handle at once.

Everything piles up and you don't know where to start.

Examples:

• I'm overwhelmed with work this week.
• She felt overwhelmed by all the responsibilities.
• The amount of homework is overwhelming.

Tip: You can be overwhelmed by work, emotions, or even positive things like support and kindness.

14. Envious

Meaning: Wanting what someone else has.

It's similar to jealousy, but usually about possessions, success, or qualities.

Examples:

• I'm a bit envious of her language skills.
• He was envious of his friend's new car.
• Don't be envious—focus on your own progress.

Tip: "Envious of" something vs. "jealous of" someone (though people mix these up all the time).

15. Embarrassed

Meaning: Feeling ashamed or awkward because of something you did.

That red-faced feeling when everyone's looking at you for the wrong reasons.

Examples:

• I was so embarrassed when I tripped in front of everyone.
• She gets embarrassed easily when people compliment her.
• He felt embarrassed about forgetting her name.

Tip: Double "r" and double "s"—it's a common spelling mistake!

16. Guilty

Meaning: Feeling bad because you did something wrong.

Your conscience is bothering you about a mistake or poor choice.

Examples:

• I feel guilty for not calling my grandmother more often.
• He felt guilty about lying to his parents.
• She's carrying a lot of guilt about what happened.

Tip: Guilt is internal—you feel it even if no one knows what you did.

17. Irritated

Meaning: Slightly angry or bothered by something.

It's not full-on anger, just that annoyed, grumpy feeling.

Examples:

• I'm irritated by the constant noise from next door.
• She gets irritated when people interrupt her.
• The delay was irritating, but not a huge problem.

Tip: Less intense than "angry" or "furious." Think of it as low-level annoyance.

18. Heartbroken

Meaning: Extremely sad, usually about a relationship or loss.

This is deep emotional pain that feels like your heart is actually hurting.

Examples:

• She was heartbroken when her dog died.
• He's still heartbroken over the breakup.
• They were heartbroken to hear the news.

Tip: Most commonly used for romantic situations, but works for any deep loss.

19. Miserable

Meaning: Very unhappy and uncomfortable.

More intense than just "sad"—you feel awful in multiple ways.

Examples:

• I felt miserable with that cold last week.
• He's been miserable ever since he lost his job.
• The rainy weather made everyone miserable.

Tip: Can describe physical discomfort or emotional unhappiness.

20. Insecure

Meaning: Lacking confidence, worried about yourself or your situation.

You doubt yourself and worry about what others think.

Examples:

• She feels insecure about her English speaking skills.
• He's insecure about his appearance.
• Many teenagers feel insecure in social situations.

Tip: Usually followed by "about" something specific.

Complex or Mixed Emotions

21. Nostalgic

Meaning: Feeling sentimental about the past.

That bittersweet feeling when you remember good times that are gone.

Examples:

• This song makes me feel nostalgic for my childhood.
• He gets nostalgic whenever he visits his hometown.
• There's something nostalgic about old photographs.

Tip: Pronunciation: nos-TAL-jic. The "g" is soft like "j."

22. Confused

Meaning: Unable to think clearly or understand something.

Your thoughts are jumbled and nothing makes sense.

Examples:

• I'm confused about the homework instructions.
• She looked confused when he explained the plan.
• This situation is really confusing.

Tip: Often paired with "about" or "by" something.

23. Surprised

Meaning: Feeling shock or wonder because something unexpected happened.

Something caught you off guard—could be good or bad.

Examples:

• I was surprised to see you here!
• She seemed surprised by the question.
• They'll be surprised when they hear the news.

Tip: Can use "surprised at," "surprised by," or "surprised to" depending on context.

24. Curious

Meaning: Wanting to know or learn about something.

You're interested and asking questions in your mind.

Examples:

• I'm curious about how this machine works.
• She's always been curious about other cultures.
• Aren't you curious what's inside the box?

Tip: Curiosity is positive—it means you have an active, questioning mind.

25. Suspicious

Meaning: Thinking something wrong or dishonest is happening.

You don't quite trust the situation or person.

Examples:

• I'm suspicious of anyone who offers something for free.
• She became suspicious when he avoided her questions.
• That sounds suspicious to me.

Tip: Usually followed by "of" someone or something.

26. Sympathetic

Meaning: Feeling concern and care for someone else's problems.

You understand what they're going through and you care.

Examples:

• I'm sympathetic to your situation.
• She's very sympathetic when friends have problems.
• The teacher was sympathetic about my family emergency.

Tip: Different from "empathetic"—sympathy is caring, empathy is actually feeling what they feel.

27. Indifferent

Meaning: Not caring either way, no strong feelings.

You're neutral—it doesn't really matter to you.

Examples:

• I'm indifferent about which restaurant we choose.
• He seems indifferent to the criticism.
• She's completely indifferent to fashion trends.

Tip: Sometimes seen as negative because it can seem like you don't care enough.

28. Hesitant

Meaning: Unsure and slow to act or decide.

You're holding back because you're not confident about what to do.

Examples:

• I'm hesitant to make such a big decision quickly.
• She was hesitant about accepting the offer.
• He spoke in a hesitant voice.

Tip: Often used with "to" plus a verb (hesitant to do something).

29. Vulnerable

Meaning: Feeling exposed and easily hurt emotionally.

Your emotional guard is down and you could be hurt easily.

Examples:

• Opening up about feelings makes me feel vulnerable.
• She's in a vulnerable position right now.
• He felt vulnerable after the breakup.

Tip: Pronunciation: VUL-ner-able. Three syllables, not four.

30. Conflicted

Meaning: Having mixed or opposing feelings about something.

Part of you feels one way, part of you feels another.

Examples:

• I feel conflicted about moving to a new city.
• She's conflicted between two job offers.
• He has conflicted feelings about the decision.

Tip: Usually you're conflicted "about" something, not "by" it.

Intense or Strong Emotions

31. Furious

Meaning: Extremely angry.

This is top-level anger—you're really, really mad.

Examples:

• She was furious when she found out he lied.
• My dad will be furious if I fail this class.
• He looked absolutely furious.

Tip: Stronger than "angry" or "mad." Use it sparingly for maximum impact.

32. Terrified

Meaning: Extremely scared or frightened.

More intense than just "afraid" or "scared."

Examples:

• I'm terrified of spiders.
• She was terrified during the horror movie.
• He's terrified of public speaking.

Tip: Usually followed by "of" something specific.

33. Devastated

Meaning: Completely destroyed emotionally by something.

This is extreme sadness or shock, like your world just fell apart.

Examples:

• They were devastated by the loss.
• I was devastated when I didn't get the scholarship.
• She's absolutely devastated about the news.

Tip: Save this for truly serious situations—it's one of the strongest negative emotions.

34. Ashamed

Meaning: Feeling embarrassed and guilty about something you did.

It's deeper than embarrassment—there's a moral element to it.

Examples:

• I'm ashamed of how I treated her.
• He felt ashamed for not helping when he could have.
• She was too ashamed to admit her mistake.

Tip: Shame involves your values and self-image, not just awkwardness.

35. Resentful

Meaning: Feeling bitter and angry about being treated unfairly.

This anger builds over time and doesn't go away easily.

Examples:

• He's resentful about being passed over for promotion.
• She felt resentful toward her sister for years.
• Try not to become resentful about past mistakes.

Tip: Resentment is anger mixed with hurt that sticks around.

36. Euphoric

Meaning: Feeling intense happiness and excitement.

This is an almost dreamlike state of extreme joy.

Examples:

• Winning the competition left her feeling euphoric.
• The crowd was euphoric after the victory.
• I felt euphoric when I heard the good news.

Tip: Comes from "euphoria"—a state of intense well-being. Pronounced you-FOR-ic.

Practice Section

Now it's your turn! Try filling in the blanks with the right emotion word:

1. After waiting all day for test results, I felt __ when I found out I passed. (relieved)
2. She was __ when her best friend moved away. (heartbroken)
3. I'm __ about the instructions—can you explain again? (confused)
4. He felt __ of his colleague's success. (envious)
5. The movie left me feeling __ for my school days. (nostalgic)

Writing Practice: Pick three emotion words from this list and write a short paragraph about a time you felt each one. Try to explain what caused the emotion and how it affected you.

Wrapping Things Up

Here's what matters most: emotions aren't simple. You're rarely just "happy" or "sad"—you're usually feeling something more specific. Maybe you're not just happy, you're thrilled. You're not just sad, you're disappointed or heartbroken.

Using these 36 words will help you express yourself more clearly and connect better with English speakers. Start by picking five words that describe emotions you feel often, then practice using them in real conversations or writing.

One thing worth noticing: native speakers don't always use the "perfect" emotion word. Sometimes they just say "I feel weird about it" or "I don't know how I feel." That's okay too! But having these words in your toolkit means you can be more precise when you want to be.

Try using one new emotion word each day this week. Say it out loud, write it in a sentence, use it in a conversation. The more you practice, the more natural these words will feel. Your emotional vocabulary is just as important as knowing grammar rules—maybe even more so when you're trying to build real connections with people.

So what's the main thing to remember? Emotions are part of being human, and the better you can name them in English, the better you'll be able to share who you really are.