French mood vocabulary spans moods, attitudes, and states of mind to help you express how you feel in everyday life.
French mood vocabulary covers a range of words and expressions to describe feelings, attitudes, and mental states. This page is organized into key categories to help you build a complete mood vocabulary.
Common French Moods
Here are some of the most frequently used French words for describing general moods. These will help you express basic that can fit many everyday situations.
| French Singular/Masculine | French Plural/Feminine | English Singular/Masculine | English Plural/Feminine | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| heureux / heureuse | heureux / heureuses | happy | happy | Je suis heureuse aujourd’hui. | I am happy today. |
| triste / triste | tristes / tristes | sad | sad | Il est triste ce soir. | He is sad tonight. |
| fatigué / fatiguée | fatigués / fatiguées | tired | tired | Nous sommes fatigués après le travail. | We are tired after work. |
| en colère / en colère | (no plural change) | angry | angry | Elle est en colère contre son frère. | She is angry with her brother. |
| stressé / stressée | stressés / stressées | stressed | stressed | Je suis stressé avant l’examen. | I am stressed before the exam. |
Nous sommes ___ après le travail.
What is the French word for 'tired' when speaking about a group of women?
fatiguées
'Fatiguées' is the feminine plural form for 'tired.' 'Fatigués' is masculine plural; the others mean different moods.
Positive Moods
These words help you describe feelings of joy, calm, and positivity. They’re useful for sharing when you’re in a good place emotionally.
| French Singular/Masculine | French Plural/Feminine | English Singular/Masculine | English Plural/Feminine | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| optimiste / optimiste | optimistes / optimistes | optimistic | optimistic | Elle est optimiste pour l’avenir. | She is optimistic about the future. |
| enthousiaste / enthousiaste | enthousiastes / enthousiastes | enthusiastic | enthusiastic | Je suis enthousiaste pour le concert. | I am enthusiastic about the concert. |
| détendu / détendue | détendus / détendues | relaxed | relaxed | Après le yoga, je suis détendu. | After yoga, I am relaxed. |
| reconnaissant / reconnaissante | reconnaissants / reconnaissantes | grateful | grateful | Nous sommes reconnaissants pour votre aide. | We are grateful for your help. |
| joyeux / joyeuse | joyeux / joyeuses | joyful | joyful | Les enfants sont joyeux ce matin. | The children are joyful this morning. |
Nous sommes ___ pour votre aide.
What is the French word for 'grateful' (plural, feminine)?
reconnaissantes
'Reconnaissantes' is the feminine plural form of 'grateful.' 'Reconnaissants' is masculine plural.
Negative Moods
These words describe discomfort, frustration, and other challenging feelings. They’re important for expressing when you’re not feeling your best.
| French Singular/Masculine | French Plural/Feminine | English Singular/Masculine | English Plural/Feminine | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| anxieux / anxieuse | anxieux / anxieuses | anxious | anxious | Je suis anxieuse à propos du rendez-vous. | I am anxious about the appointment. |
| déçu / déçue | déçus / déçues | disappointed | disappointed | Il est déçu par les résultats. | He is disappointed by the results. |
| frustré / frustrée | frustrés / frustrées | frustrated | frustrated | Nous sommes frustrés par le trafic. | We are frustrated by the traffic. |
| ennuyé / ennuyée | ennuyés / ennuyées | bored | bored | Je suis ennuyée en classe aujourd’hui. | I am bored in class today. |
| coupable / coupable | coupables / coupables | guilty | guilty | Elle se sent coupable d’avoir menti. | She feels guilty about lying. |
Complex French Moods
These expressions capture more nuanced emotional states that are common in deeper conversations. They often use reflexive verbs.
| French Singular/Masculine | French Plural/Feminine | English Singular/Masculine | English Plural/Feminine | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mélancolique / mélancolique | mélancoliques / mélancoliques | melancholic | melancholic | Il est mélancolique en automne. | He is melancholic in autumn. |
| nostalgique / nostalgique | nostalgiques / nostalgiques | nostalgic | nostalgic | Je suis nostalgique de mon enfance. | I am nostalgic for my childhood. |
| irrité / irritée | irrités / irritées | irritated | irritated | Elle est irritée par le bruit. | She is irritated by the noise. |
| abattu / abattue | abattus / abattues | downhearted | downhearted | Après la mauvaise nouvelle, il est abattu. | After the bad news, he is downhearted. |
| euphorique / euphorique | euphoriques / euphoriques | euphoric | euphoric | Ils sont euphoriques après la victoire. | They are euphoric after the victory. |
French Reflexive Mood Expressions
French often uses reflexive verbs to describe changes in mood or emotional states. These phrases are essential for natural self-expression.
| French Expression | English Translation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| se sentir (bien/mal) | to feel (good/bad) | Je me sens bien aujourd’hui. | I feel good today. |
| se mettre en colère | to get angry | Elle se met en colère facilement. | She gets angry easily. |
| s’énerver | to get annoyed | Il s’énerve quand il conduit. | He gets annoyed when he drives. |
| se dépêcher | to hurry | Je me dépêche pour ne pas être en retard. | I hurry so I’m not late. |
| se détendre | to relax | Nous nous détendons après le travail. | We relax after work. |
Using French Mood Vocabulary in Context
Here are some common sentence structures to help you incorporate mood vocabulary into daily conversations:
- Je suis + [mood] (I am + [mood])
- Je suis heureuse ce matin. (I am happy this morning.)
- Tu te sens + [reflexive mood]? (Do you feel + [mood]?)
- Tu te sens stressé? (Do you feel stressed?)
- Il/elle est + [mood] (He/she is + [mood])
- Elle est fatiguée après l’école. (She is tired after school.)
- Nous sommes + [mood] (We are + [mood])
- Nous sommes optimistes pour demain. (We are optimistic for tomorrow.)
- Ils/elles se sentent + [reflexive mood] (They feel + [mood])
- Ils se sentent anxieux avant l’examen. (They feel anxious before the exam.)
Explore the full range of French mood vocabulary to express yourself with confidence and emotional nuance!
Flashcards (1 of 25)
- English Singular/Masculine: happy
- English Plural/Feminine: happy
- English Example: I am happy today.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
