Expressing Feelings in English

Yazar

27/08/2025

How to express your feelings in English — Talking about your feelings

How to Talk About Your Feelings in English

Want to sound more natural when you talk about your feelings in English? Moving beyond simple words like “happy” or “sad” is a great way to make your conversations more interesting. Native speakers use all sorts of idioms and expressions to show exactly how they feel.

This guide covers common feelings like happiness, sadness, tiredness, fear, uncertainty, and anger. For each one, you’ll find plenty of casual expressions and examples to show you how to use them in real life.

Happiness & Excitement: Sharing the Joy

Ever have one of those moments where you’re just buzzing with good vibes? Maybe you nailed something big, or you’re just soaking up a perfect sunny afternoon. Happiness can be a quiet smile or a full-on “I can’t stop grinning” kind of deal. These phrases will help you capture that spark, no matter how big or small.

To be over the moon – Sarah was over the moon because she got into her dream college and danced around her room.
To feel ecstatic / be ecstatic – The fans felt ecstatic because their team won the championship and cheered wildly.
To feel stoked/be stoked – Alex was stoked because his favorite band was playing nearby, so he grabbed the tickets instantly.
To feel thrilled / be thrilled – Emma felt thrilled since her art project won first place and beamed at the showcase – Emma was thrilled since her art project won first place, beaming at the showcase. Note: “To be thrilled” is more common in casual chats, but “to feel thrilled” works too when you’re emphasizing the feeling.
To feel content / be content – Jake was content after a long hike, relaxing by the campfire at the end of a perfect day.
To feel delighted / be delighted – The kids were delighted since they got their favorite toys and giggled with joy.
To feel giddy / be giddy – Lisa felt giddy because her wedding day was near, and she kept laughing nervously with friends. Another example: I was giddy all morning because my best friend was coming to visit, practically bouncing around the house.
To feel amazing – Sophie felt amazing since she finished her marathon and grinned at the finish line.
To be in high spirits – Anna was in high spirits because her project got rave reviews, and she was eager for her next task.
To feel pumped/be pumped – Mike was pumped since he scored front-row seats and started planning his game-day outfit.
To feel cheerful / be cheerful – Rachel felt cheerful after a sunny walk and felt energized because the weather was ideal.
To feel so glad / be so glad – Mark was so glad because his lost cat finally came home, and he hugged it with relief.
To be blissfully happy/ to feel blissfully happy – To be in a state of pure, serene happiness. Example: Mia was blissfully happy since her proposal went perfectly, smiling all evening. Note: “To be blissfully happy” is more common in casual chats.
To be dizzy/ to feel dizzy- typically describes a state of being lightheaded, disoriented, or emotionally overwhelmed, often with a playful or excited connotation in the context of happiness. Example: Sophie was dizzy because she just got off a rollercoaster, laughing and stumbling with her friends.
To be light-hearted – is very common in casual English, describing a state of being cheerful, carefree, or playfully happy, often with a sense of ease or lack of seriousness. Example: I was light-hearted because I finished my big project, like all my stress just melted away.

Sadness & Disappointment: Voicing the Blues

We all have those days where things just feel… off. Maybe you’re bummed about a letdown, or something heavier’s weighing on you. Sadness can hit like a quiet cloud or a deep ache. These expressions will help you put words to those low moments, whether it’s a passing funk or something more intense.

To be down in the dumps – Jake was down in the dumps because he failed his exam and stayed in his room all evening.
To feel heartbroken / be heartbroken – Emily was heartbroken since her relationship ended, and she cried over old photos.
To feel blue / be blue – Anna felt blue because her friends canceled their plans, so she watched a movie to cheer up.- I am feeling kind of blue today.
To feel miserable / be miserable – Sarah felt miserable because she was stuck in a storm and got soaked in traffic.
To feel down – Tom felt down since his best friend moved away, and he missed their daily hangouts.
To feel off – Lisa felt off because she barely slept and struggled to focus at work.
To feel upset / be upset – Mike was upset since his idea was ignored, and he felt unappreciated.
To feel crushed – John was crushed since his team lost in the last seconds of the game.
To feel gloomy / be gloomy – Rachel felt gloomy because the rain canceled her plans, so she just stared out the window.
To have a heavy heart – It is an idiomatic expression that describes a deep, emotional sadness or sorrow, often accompanied by a sense of burden or emotional weight. It’s typically used when someone feels profound grief, regret. For example, “Maria had a heavy heart because she had to say goodbye to her childhood home, knowing she’d miss it.” Note: It is not as commonly used in daily conversations as simpler expressions like “to be sad” or “to feel down,” primarily because it conveys a deeper, more intense sadness.
Not feeling it- meaning to be generally disinterested, unenthusiastic, or not emotionally connected to something (e.g., an activity, event, or experience). It’s often used when someone can’t quite pinpoint why they’re not engaged. For example: “Jake wasn’t feeling it at the party because the music wasn’t his vibe, so he left early.” –
“Sarah wasn’t feeling it during the group hike, not sure why she wasn’t into the scenery.”

Note: “Not feeling it” is a fixed, super casual phrase used to express mild disinterest; it doesn’t typically use “to feel” or “to be” forms.

Fatigue & Stress: When Energy Runs Low

Some days it feels like your tank is empty. Long hours at work, endless studying, or constant stress can weigh you down like a backpack full of bricks. Fatigue slows your body, stress drains your mind, and together they steal your spark. The expressions below capture that “I’m completely done” feeling — the times when you’re just out of energy.

To feel tired / be tired – Jake was tired because he studied late and yawned through his morning classes.
To feel exhausted / be exhausted – Emily was exhausted since she worked a double shift and collapsed on the couch.
To feel worn out / be worn out – Sarah was worn out because she moved furniture all day and could barely move afterward.
To feel drained / be drained – Mike was drained since he had nonstop meetings and just wanted a quiet evening.
To feel burned out / be burned out – Anna was burned out because she worked for weeks without a break and craved a vacation.
To feel beat – Lisa was beat after running a race and went straight to bed.
To feel wiped out – Mark was wiped out because he stayed up cramming and slept through his alarm the next day.
To feel spent/be spent – Alex was spent because he trained for hours and needed a nap to recover.
To feel sluggish / be sluggish – Rachel was sluggish since she didn’t sleep well and dragged herself through her routine.
To feel weary –Tom felt weary because he had been traveling for days and longed for his own bed.
To take a breather – is a casual, idiomatic expression meaning to take a short break or pause to rest, relax, or catch one’s breath, often to recover from stress, fatigue, or intense activity. It implies stepping away briefly to regain energy or composure. Examples: “I took a breather after running five miles because I was completely winded.”- “Sarah decided to take a breather during the project because the deadlines were stressing her out.” -“We took a breather from the argument to cool off and avoid saying something we’d regret.”

Fear, Worry & Nervousness: Expressing the Jitters

You know that feeling when your stomach’s in knots? Maybe you’re spooked by something creepy, or you’re just stressing about a big moment. Fear and worry can range from a little unease to full-on panic. These phrases will help you nail that shaky, nervous vibe.

To be scared stiff – Tim was scared stiff because a ghost appeared in the movie, and he gripped his seat tightly.
To feel terrified / be terrified – The passenger was terrified since the plane hit turbulence, and she clutched her seatbelt.
To feel apprehensive / be apprehensive – Rachel was apprehensive because her interview was near, so she practiced her answers.
To feel petrified / be petrified – She was petrified since footsteps echoed in the alley, and she froze on the spot.
To feel jittery / be jittery – Mike was jittery because he drank too much coffee before presenting, and his hands shook.
To panic / to feel panicked – I panicked because the exam had already started. / She felt panicked when she couldn’t find her phone.
To feel uneasy / be uneasy – She was uneasy walking alone at night, so she hurried down the street.
To feel frightened / be frightened – The child was frightened because of the thunderstorm and hid under the blankets.
To feel nervous / be nervous – Jake was nervous because his exam was looming, so he kept reviewing his notes.
To feel anxious / be anxious – Emily was anxious since her flight was delayed and worried she’d miss her connection.

Uncertainty & Confusion: Navigating Doubt

Sometimes life feels like walking through a thick fog — you’re not sure which way to go, and every step makes you second-guess yourself. Doubt can hold you back, and confusion can leave you scratching your head. The expressions below capture that “wait… what’s going on?” feeling when decisions aren’t clear and everything seems up in the air.

To be on the fence – Lisa was on the fence because she couldn’t pick a job and kept weighing her options nightly.
To feel hesitant / be hesitant – He was hesitant since the investment looked risky, so he researched for weeks.
To feel unsure / be unsure – She was unsure because the directions were vague and kept checking her map.
To be indecisive – John was indecisive at the restaurant since every dish looked good, flipping the menu over and over.
To feel lost/be lost – Emily was lost because the new software was complex and she struggled to navigate it.
To feel torn/be torn – Mike was torn since both colleges were great, and he debated their programs for days.
To feel confused / be confused – Sophie was confused because the instructions didn’t match, so she asked her boss for help.
To feel puzzled / be puzzled – Mark was puzzled since the map didn’t match the directions, so he stopped to reassess.
To feel mixed up – Rachel felt mixed up because of all the conflicting advice and didn’t know what to follow.
To have mixed feelings – Tom had mixed feelings about the new job offer because it sounded exciting, but it meant moving far from home.

Anger & Frustration: Letting Off Steam

Some days, you’re just over it. Maybe someone pushed your buttons, or things keep going wrong. Anger and frustration can simmer quietly or boil over big time. These phrases will help you vent that heat, from mild irritation to full-on fuming.

To feel annoyed / be annoyed – Jake was annoyed because the neighbor’s dog kept barking and disrupted his work.
To feel irritated / be irritated – Emily was irritated since her computer kept crashing and delayed her project.
To feel mad / be mad – Tom was mad because someone cut him off in traffic, and he honked in frustration.
To feel frustrated / be frustrated – Sarah was frustrated since her Wi-Fi kept dropping, and she missed an important meeting.
To feel upset / be upset – Mike was upset because his idea was ignored, and he felt undervalued.
To feel fed up / be fed up – Lisa was fed up since the bus was always late, so she decided to walk.
To feel furious / be furious – Sophie was furious because her phone was stolen, so she went straight to the police station.
To feel ticked off – Rachel was ticked off because her coffee order was wrong, and she muttered quietly about it.
To feel fuming / be fuming – Emily was fuming because her flight was canceled, and she paced around the airport.
To be about to explode – Tom was about to explode because his boss ignored his concerns, and he had to step outside to cool off.
To be prickly- Often describes a person’s general demeanor or personality trait, implying they are consistently irritable or easily offended. For example, “She’s prickly about criticism.”
To feel prickly – Describes a temporary emotional state where someone is easily irritated, touchy, or quick to take offense, often due to a specific trigger like stress or fatigue. The term evokes a cactus’s prickly spines, suggesting sensitivity or defensiveness, e.g., “I’m feeling prickly today, so don’t bother me.” It emphasizes the subjective experience of being in a moody, irritable state.

Quick Teaching Formula

To sound like a native, link feelings to causes using:
I’m [expression without ‘to’] + because/since/that + cause
Examples:

“I’m blissfully happy because I got engaged.”
“I’m worn down since this year was tough.”
“I’m a hot mess because everything went wrong today.”

This formula adds context, making your emotions relatable. Practice in conversations, texts, or journaling to make it natural. To retain new vocabulary, create your own example sentences with real-life situations, like a time you felt surprised or upset, and practice daily to build confidence.

Practice Activity

To help you remember these expressions, try this:

Pick your favorite expression from each emotion category (e.g., “to be stoked,” “to have a heavy heart”).
Think of a real-life situation when you felt that emotion (e.g., a time you were surprised or frustrated).
Write a sentence using the expression and share it in a journal or with a friend.
Example: “I was stoked because I aced my English presentation, surprising everyone.”

You can also visit ” Talking about clothing ” if you’ve liked this article.