Learning new vocabulary to describe emotions can be a tricky task in a second language. Use this guide to increase your vocabulary and to let others know exactly how you feel.

Happiness/Excitement

blissful (blɪs fǝl) full of, marked by, or causing complete happiness
bubbly (bᴧ bli) full of or showing good spirits
delirious (dǝ liɚ i ǝs) of, relating to, or characteristic of a frenzied excitement or an acute mental disturbance characterized by confused thinking and disrupted attention
ebullient (ɪ bʊl jǝnt) lively and enthusiastic
effervescent (e fɚ vɛ sǝnt) excited or lively
elated (ɪ leɪ tɪd) very happy and excited
enthusiastic (en θu zi æ stɪk) filled with or marked by a strong excitement of feeling or something inspiring zeal or fervor
euphoric (ju foɚ ɪk) marked by a feeling of great happiness or excitement
excited (ek saɪ tɪd) having, showing, or characterized by a heightened state of energy, enthusiasm, eagerness, etc.
exhilarated (ek zɪl ɚ eɪ dɪd) cheerful and excited, refreshed and stimulated
exultant (ek zǝl tǝnt) filled with or expressing great joy or triumph
happy (hæ pi) feeling of pleasure and enjoyment
jubilant (ʤu bǝ lɪnt) feeling or expressing great joy
pleased (plizd) with pleasure or satisfaction
satisfied (sæ tǝs faɪd) having a happy or pleased feeling because of something that you did or something that happened to you

Sad/Negative Feelings

depressed (dǝ prɛst) low in spirits
despair (dǝ speɚ) utter loss of hope, a cause of hopelessness
disappointed (dɪs ǝ poɪn tɪd) defeated in expectation or hope
dismal (dɪz mǝl) showing or causing gloom or depression
dissatisfied (dɪ sæ tɪs feɪd) expressing or showing lack of satisfaction
distressed (dɪs trɛst) feeling or showing extreme unhappiness or pain
glum (glᴧm) sad
grief (grif) deep sadness caused especially by someone’s death; a cause of deep sadness; trouble or annoyance
humiliated (hju mɪl i eɪ tɪd) feelings of shame and embarrassment due to being reduced to a lower position in one’s own eyes or others’ eyes
hurt (hɝt) feeling of physical or emotional pain or anguish
lugubrious (lǝ gu bri ᴧs) mournful; exaggeratedly or affectedly mournful; dismal
morose (mǝ ros) having a sullen and gloomy disposition; marked by or expressive of gloom
mournful (moɚn fᴧl) expressing, causing, or full of sorrow
regretful (ri grɛt fᴧl) feeling or showing regret; sad or disappointed
sad (sæd) affected with or expressive of grief or unhappiness; depressing
somber (sam bɚ) very sad and serious
sullen (sᴧ lɪn) gloomily or resentfully silent or repressed, suggesting a sullen state
wounded (wun dɪd) feeling emotional pain

Anxiety/Worry

anxious (æŋk ʃǝs) worried, characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency, characterized by/resulting from/causing anxiety, ardently or earnestly wishing
concerned (kᴧn sɝnd) anxious, worried
desperate (dɛs prɪt) having lost hope, moved by despair, suffering extreme need or anxiety
nervous (nɝ vǝs) timid, apprehensive, uneasy, agitated
uneasy (ᴧn i zi) apprehensive, worried, physical or mental discomfort

Surprise/Wonder

amazed (ǝ meɪzd) feeling or showing great surprise or wonder
amused (ǝ mjuzt) pleasantly entertained
astonished (ǝ sta nɪʃt) feeling or showing great surprise or wonder
astounded (ǝ staʊn dɪd) feeling or showing great surprise or wonder
blown away (blon ǝ weɪ) impressed very strongly and usually favorably
dazzled (dæ zǝld) impressed, overpowered, or confounded with brilliance
flabbergasted (flæ bɚ gæ stɪd) overwhelmed with shock, surprise, or wonder
impressed (ɪm prɛst) characterized by a feeling of admiration or interest
in awe (ɪn ɔ) a strong feeling of fear or respect and also wonder
shocked (ʃɔkt) very confused, upset, or exhausted because of something that has happened
surprised (sɚ praɪzd) having or showing the feeling that people get when something unexpected or unusual happens

Anger/Frustration

aggravated (æ grǝ veɪ dɪd) annoyed or bothered
aggrieved (ǝ grivd) troubled or distressed in spirit
agitated (æ ʤǝ teɪ dɪd) troubled in mind; disturbed and upset
angry (æŋ gri) feeling or showing anger
anguished (æŋ gwɪʃt) tormented; feeling of extreme pain, distress, or anxiety
annoyed (ǝ noɪd) feeling or showing angry irritation
cross (kras) annoyed or angry
exasperated (ek zæ spɚ eɪ tɪd) very angry or annoyed
frustrated (frᴧ streɪ tɪd) very angry, discouraged, or upset because of being unable to do or complete something
furious (fju ri ǝs) very angry; very active or fast
grumpy (grᴧm pi) moodily cross, surly
ill (ɪl) angry (Southern)
livid (lɪ vɪd) very angry
outraged (aʊt reɪʤd) characterized by anger and resentment aroused by injury or insult

Annoyed/A bee in your bonnet

bilious (bɪ li ǝs) of or indicative of a peevish ill-natured disposition
bothered (ba ðɚd) feeling troubled, woried or concerned; annoyed; concerned with or about something
irked (ɝkt) weary, irritated
irritable (iɚ ɪt ǝ bᴧl) easily exasperated or excited, responsive to stimuli
irritated (iɚ ɪ teɪ tɪd) subjected to irritation
miffed (mɪft) in a bad mood, offended
peeved (pivd) resentful

Confusion

baffled (bæ fǝld) confused, frustrated
confounded (kᴧn faʊn dɪd) confused, perplexed
confused (kᴧn fjuzd) being perplexed or disconcerted; disoriented with regard to one’s sense of time, place, or identity; being disordered or mixed up
discombobulated (dɪs kǝm ba bju leɪ tɪd) upset, confused
disconcerted (dɪs kǝn sɝ tɪd) thrown into confusion
flummoxed (flᴧ mǝkst) completely unable to understand
perplexed (pɚ plɛkst) filled with uncertainty
stumped (stᴧmpt) perplexed, baffled
stymied (staɪ mid) presented with an obstacle or something standing in the way of
vexed (vɛkst) annoyed or worried

Fear

afraid (ǝ freɪd) filled with fear or apprehension
apprehensive (æp ri hɛn sɪv) afraid that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; feeling or showing fear or nervousness about the future
fearful (fiɚ fᴧl) full of or inclined to fear
horrified (hoɚ ɪ faɪd) shocked; full of a painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay
scared (skeɚd) afraid of something; nervous or frightened
terrified (tɝ ɪ feɪd) extremely afraid

Interest (or Lack Thereof)

bored (boɚd) filled with or characterized by boredom
curious (kjɝ i ǝs) marked by desire to investigate and learn
fascinated (fæ sɪ neɪ tɪd) transfixed and held spellbound by an irresistible power, interested in
interested (ɪn trɪ stɪd) wanting to learn more about something or to become involved in something; having the desire to do or have something

The Gravity of the Situation

flippant (flɪp ǝnt) lacking proper respect or seriousness
grave (greɪv) very serious, requiring or causing serious thought or concern
serious (sir i jǝs) not joking or funny; giving a lot of attention or energy to something
sober (soʊ bɚ) having or showing a very serious attitude or quality; not drunk

Making Decisions and Getting Things Done

ambivalent (æm bɪ vǝ lɪnt) having or showing simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings toward something or someone
confident (kan fɪ dɛnt) full of conviction, certain, having or showing assurance and self-reliance
determined (dɪ tɚ mɪnd) characterized by a firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end
discouraged (dɪs kɝ ɪʤd) feeling less determined, hopeful, or confident
steadfast (stɛd fæst) firm in belief, determination, or adherence
timid (tɪ mɪd) lacking in courage or self-confidence; lacking in boldness or determination

Energy

effusive (ɪ fju sɪv) expressing a lot of emotion
ennui (an wi) a lack of spirit, enthusiasm, or interest
exhausted (ek zɔ stɪd) completely or almost completely depleted or energy, extremely tired
fervid (fɝ vɪd) marked by extreme intensity of feeling or expression
invigorated (ɪn vɪ goɚ eɪ tɪd) given life and energy
lethargic (lǝ θar ʤɪk) feeling a lack of energy or a lack of interest in doing things
overexerted (oʊ vɚ ek zɝ dɪd) tired out due to great or sustained effort
overwhelmed (oʊ vɚ wɛlmd) affected very strongly, a feeling of having too many things to deal with
pooped (pupt) tired out, exhausted (slang)
refreshed (rǝ frɛʃt) with restored strength and animation
tired (taɪ jɚd) feeling a need to rest or sleep; bored or annoyed by something because you have heard it, seen it, done it, etc. for a long time

Attitude

grateful (greɪt fᴧl) feeling or showing thanks
hopeful (hop fᴧl) full of hope
impatient (ɪm peɪ ʃǝnt) not willing to wait for something or someone; wanting or eager to do something without waiting
optimistic (ap tǝ mɪs tɪk) feeling or showing hope for the future
patient (peɪ ʃǝnt) not hasty or impetuous; steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity; bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
pessimistic (pɛ sǝ mɪs tɪk) of, relating to, or characterized by an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worse possible outcome
proud (praʊd) having or displaying excessive self-esteem, pleased, or having proper self-respect
staid (steɪd) marked by settled sedateness and often prim self-restraint
stubborn (stᴧ bɚn) unreasonably or perfersely unyielding
thankful (θænk fᴧl) glad that something has happened or not happened, that something or someone exists, etc.

Attitudes Towards Others

arrogant (er ǝ gɪnt) exaggerating or disposed to exaggerate one’s own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner, showing an offensive attitude of superiority
betrayed (bǝ treɪd) treacherously abandoned, deserted, or mistreated
churlish (ʧɝ lɪʃ) marked by a lack of civility or graciousness, difficult to work with or deal with
condescend (kan dǝ sɛnd) to assume an air of superiority, to descent to a less formal or dignified level
contemptuous (kᴧn tɛm ʧu ǝs) manifesting, feeling, or expressing deep hatred or disapproval
disdainful (dɪs deɪn fᴧl) full of or expressing contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior
embarrassed (ɪm ber ǝst) feelings of confusion and foolishness in front of other people
empathy (em pǝ θt) a feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions
envious (en vi ǝs) feeling or showing painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another with a desire to possess the same advantage
gracious (greɪ ʃǝs) very polite in a way that shows respect
haughty (hɔ ti) blatantly and disdainfully proud, having or showing an attitude of superiority and contempt for people or things perceived to be inferior
jealous (ʤɛl ǝs) hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage; intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness; vigilant in guarding a possession
offended (ǝ fɛn dɪd) feeling hurt, angry, or upset by something said or done
resentful (re zɛnt fᴧl) full of a feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury
scorn (skoɚn) open dislike and disrespect or derision often mixed with indignation; an object of extreme disdain, contempt, or derision
scornful (skoɚn fǝl) full of scorn; contemptuous
smug (smǝg) highly self-satisfied
supercilious (su pɚ sɪ li ǝs) coolly and patronizingly haughty
surly (sɝ li) irritably sullen and churlish in mood or manner
sympathetic (sɪm pǝ θɛ tɪk) feeling or showing concern about someone who is in a bad situation

When People Do Bad Things

ashamed (ǝ ʃeɪmd) feeling shame, guilt, or disgrace; reluctant or unwilling to do something because of shame or embarrassment
culpable (kᴧl pǝ bǝl) guilty, meriting condemnation or blame especially as wrong or harmful
guilty (gɪl ti) feeling bad because you have done something bad or wrong or because you believe you have done something bad or wrong
suspicious (sǝ spɪ ʃǝs) having or showing a feeling that something is wrong or that someone is behaving wrongly

Sexual

horny (hoɚ ni) excited sexually
lecherous (lɛ ʧɚ ǝs) having or showing an excessive or disgusting interest in sex
salacious (sǝ leɪ ʃᴧs) arousing or appealing to sexual desire or imagination; lecherous
titillated (tɪ tǝ leɪ dɪd) interested or excited in an enjoyable and often sexual way