Feelings vocabulary in French, covering a wide range of emotions from happiness and sadness to anger and surprise, with example sentences.
Feelings are an essential part of human communication, and this guide will help you express a wide range of emotions in French. From joy and love to fear and anger, we’ll cover the most common feeling words along with example sentences to show how they’re used in context.
Happiness
Here are some common French words for expressing happiness and joy:
| French Singular/Plural or M/F | English Singular/Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| heureux/heureuse(s) | happy | Je suis heureuse aujourd’hui. | I am happy today. |
| joyeux/joyeuse(s) | joyful | Ils sont joyeux à la fête. | They are joyful at the party. |
| content/contente(s) | content | Elle est contente de son cadeau. | She is happy with her gift. |
| enthousiaste | enthusiastic | Je suis enthousiaste pour le voyage. | I am excited about the trip. |
| ravi(e)(s) | delighted | Nous sommes ravis de vous voir. | We are delighted to see you. |
| souriant(e)(s) | smiling | Il est toujours souriant. | He is always smiling. |
| optimiste | optimistic | Elle est optimiste pour l’avenir. | She is optimistic about the future. |
| aimable | friendly | Il est toujours aimable avec moi. | He is always kind to me. |
| satisfait(e)(s) | satisfied | Je suis satisfait de mon travail. | I am satisfied with my work. |
| joyeux/joviale | cheerful | Elle a une attitude joyeuse. | She has a cheerful attitude. |
Nous sommes ___ de vous voir.
Which French word means 'delighted'?
ravis
The word 'ravis' means 'delighted,' used in the plural form for 'we are delighted to see you' ('Nous sommes ravis de vous voir').
Je suis ___ aujourd’hui.
How do you say 'happy' (feminine singular) in French?
heureuse
The feminine singular form of 'happy' in French is 'heureuse,' as in 'Je suis heureuse aujourd’hui' (I am happy today).
Sadness
Here are some common French words for expressing sadness and sorrow:
| French Singular/Plural or M/F | English Singular/Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| triste(s) | sad | Elle est triste ce soir. | She is sad tonight. |
| déprimé(e)(s) | depressed | Il est déprimé à cause du travail. | He is depressed because of work. |
| mélancolique(s) | melancholic | Je me sens mélancolique aujourd’hui. | I feel melancholic today. |
| désespéré(e)(s) | desperate | Ils sont désespérés après la nouvelle. | They are desperate after the news. |
| abattu(e)(s) | downcast | Elle semble abattue ce matin. | She looks downcast this morning. |
| chagriné(e)(s) | sorrowful | Je suis chagriné par son départ. | I am sorrowful about his departure. |
| pleurer | to cry | Elle aime pleurer en écoutant de la musique. | She likes to cry while listening to music. |
| isolé(e)(s) | isolated | Je me sens isolé ces jours-ci. | I feel isolated these days. |
| déçu(e)(s) | disappointed | Je suis déçu par le résultat. | I am disappointed by the result. |
| nostalgique(s) | nostalgic | Il est nostalgique de son enfance. | He is nostalgic for his childhood. |
Anger
Here are some common French words for expressing anger and frustration:
| French Singular/Plural or M/F | English Singular/Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| en colère | angry | Je suis en colère contre toi. | I am angry with you. |
| furieux/furieuse(s) | furious | Elle est furieuse après la réunion. | She is furious after the meeting. |
| irrité(e)(s) | irritated | Il est irrité par le bruit. | He is irritated by the noise. |
| exaspéré(e)(s) | exasperated | Nous sommes exaspérés par le retard. | We are exasperated by the delay. |
| agacé(e)(s) | annoyed | Je suis agacé par ses commentaires. | I am annoyed by his comments. |
| rancunier/rancunière(s) | resentful | Il est rancunier envers son collègue. | He is resentful towards his colleague. |
| bouillant(e)(s) | boiling (with anger) | Elle est bouillante après l’injustice. | She is boiling after the injustice. |
| colérique | short-tempered | Il est colérique quand il est fatigué. | He is short-tempered when he is tired. |
| frustré(e)(s) | frustrated | Je suis frustrée de ne pas avancer. | I am frustrated about not making progress. |
| offensé(e)(s) | offended | Elle est offensée par la remarque. | She is offended by the comment. |
Surprise
Here are some common French words for expressing surprise and astonishment:
| French Singular/Plural or M/F | English Singular/Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| surpris(e)(s) | surprised | Je suis surpris par la nouvelle. | I am surprised by the news. |
| étonné(e)(s) | astonished | Ils sont étonnés du résultat. | They are astonished by the result. |
| abasourdi(e)(s) | stunned | Elle est abasourdie par la révélation. | She is stunned by the revelation. |
| bouche bée | speechless | Il est resté bouche bée. | He was left speechless. |
| stupéfait(e)(s) | amazed | Nous sommes stupéfaits par son talent. | We are amazed by his talent. |
| sidéré(e)(s) | shocked | Je suis sidéré par ce qui s’est passé. | I am shocked by what happened. |
| interloqué(e)(s) | taken aback | Elle est interloquée par la question. | She is taken aback by the question. |
| ébahi(e)(s) | flabbergasted | Il est ébahi devant tant de générosité. | He is flabbergasted by so much generosity. |
| ahuri(e)(s) | dumbfounded | Je suis ahuri par cette décision. | I am dumbfounded by this decision. |
| surpris(e) agréablement | pleasantly surprised | Nous sommes agréablement surpris par le service. | We are pleasantly surprised by the service. |
Fear
Here are some common French words for expressing fear and anxiety:
| French Singular/Plural or M/F | English Singular/Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| peur | fear | J’ai peur du noir. | I’m afraid of the dark. |
| anxieux/anxieuse(s) | anxious | Elle est anxieuse avant l’examen. | She is anxious before the exam. |
| effrayé(e)(s) | frightened | Ils sont effrayés par le bruit. | They are frightened by the noise. |
| paniqué(e)(s) | panicked | Je suis paniqué avant l’entrevue. | I’m panicked before the interview. |
| inquiet/inquiète(s) | worried | Il est inquiet pour sa santé. | He is worried about his health. |
| terrifié(e)(s) | terrified | Elle est terrifiée par les araignées. | She is terrified of spiders. |
| bouleversé(e)(s) | upset | Je suis bouleversée par la nouvelle. | I am upset by the news. |
| stressé(e)(s) | stressed | Nous sommes stressés par la pression. | We are stressed by the pressure. |
| méfiant(e)(s) | distrustful | Il est méfiant envers les inconnus. | He is distrustful of strangers. |
| angoissé(e)(s) | anguished | Je suis angoissé à l’idée de parler en public. | I am anguished at the idea of public speaking. |
Love & Affection
Here are some common French words for expressing love and affection:
| French Singular/Plural or M/F | English Singular/Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| amoureux/amoureuse(s) | in love | Ils sont amoureux depuis longtemps. | They have been in love for a long time. |
| tendre(s) | tender | Elle est très tendre avec ses enfants. | She is very tender with her children. |
| passionné(e)(s) | passionate | Il est passionné de musique. | He is passionate about music. |
| affectueux/affectueuse(s) | affectionate | Je suis affectueuse avec ma famille. | I am affectionate with my family. |
| câlin(e)(s) | cuddly/affectionate | Elle est câline avec son chat. | She is cuddly with her cat. |
| adoré(e)(s) | beloved | Tu es mon enfant adoré. | You are my beloved child. |
| chéri(e)(s) | darling | Mon chéri est gentil. | My darling is kind. |
| flirt | flirt | Ils sont en train de flirter. | They are flirting. |
| union(s) | union/relationship | Leur union est solide. | Their relationship is strong. |
| dévoué(e)(s) | devoted | Il est dévoué à sa famille. | He is devoted to his family. |
General Emotions
Here are some common French words for expressing general emotions and states of mind:
| French Singular/Plural or M/F | English Singular/Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| calme(s) | calm | Je reste calme en toutes situations. | I remain calm in all situations. |
| fatigué(e)(s) | tired | Nous sommes fatigués après la longue journée. | We are tired after the long day. |
| confus(e)(s) | confused | Je suis confus par ses explications. | I am confused by his explanations. |
| surpris(e)(s) | surprised | Ils sont surpris par l’annonce. | They are surprised by the announcement. |
| heureux/heureuse(s) | happy | Je suis heureuse de te revoir. | I am happy to see you again. |
| timide(s) | shy | Elle est timide en groupe. | She is shy in groups. |
| enthousiaste(s) | enthusiastic | Je suis enthousiaste à l’idée de commencer. | I am excited to start. |
| nerveux/nerveuse(s) | nervous | Il est nerveux avant de parler en public. | He is nervous before speaking in public. |
| indifférent(e)(s) | indifferent | Elle est indifférente à la politique. | She is indifferent to politics. |
| confiant(e)(s) | confident | Je suis confiant dans mes capacités. | I am confident in my abilities. |
This comprehensive list of French feelings vocabulary will help you express a wide range of emotions with confidence. Practice using these words in sentences to become more comfortable sharing your feelings in French.
Je reste ___ en toutes situations.
Which French word means 'calm' (singular and plural form)?
calme
'Calme' means 'calm' and is the same for singular and plural, as in 'Je reste calme en toutes situations' (I remain calm in all situations).
Flashcards (1 of 70)
- English Singular/Plural: happy
- English Example: I am happy today.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
