Feelings vocabulary in Spanish helps you express emotions, describe moods, and connect with others on a deeper level. This guide includes common feelings, example sentences, and tips for using them in conversations.
Common Feelings
Common feelings include basic emotions like happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. These words are essential for describing how you or others feel.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| la felicidad | las felicidades | happiness | happinesses | La felicidad es importante. | Happiness is important. |
| la tristeza | las tristezas | sadness | sadnesses | Siento mucha tristeza hoy. | I feel a lot of sadness today. |
| la ira | las iras | anger | angers | Su ira fue evidente. | His anger was evident. |
| el miedo | los miedos | fear | fears | El miedo me paraliza. | Fear paralyzes me. |
| la sorpresa | las sorpresas | surprise | surprises | Tu visita fue una sorpresa. | Your visit was a surprise. |
Intermediate Feelings
These are more nuanced emotions that help you describe your inner state more precisely.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| la ansiedad | las ansiedades | anxiety | anxieties | Tengo ansiedad antes del examen. | I have anxiety before the exam. |
| la frustración | las frustraciones | frustration | frustrations | La frustración me hace llorar. | Frustration makes me cry. |
| la culpa | las culpas | guilt | guilts | Siento culpa por lo que pasó. | I feel guilt for what happened. |
| la vergüenza | — | embarrassment | — | Sentí vergüenza en la fiesta. | I felt embarrassment at the party. |
| la esperanza | las esperanzas | hope | hopes | Tengo esperanza en el futuro. | I have hope for the future. |
I felt embarrassment at the party.
Sentí vergüenza en la fiesta.
"Vergüenza" means embarrassment, which is the correct emotion here.
Advanced Feelings
These feelings are more complex and often used in literary or formal contexts.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| la melancolía | las melancolías | melancholy | melancholies | La melancolía invadió su alma. | Melancholy invaded his soul. |
| el éxtasis | los éxtasis | ecstasy | ecstasies | Sentí un éxtasis indescriptible. | I felt an indescribable ecstasy. |
| la desilusión | las desilusiones | disappointment | disappointments | La desilusión fue profunda. | The disappointment was deep. |
| el resentimiento | los resentimientos | resentment | resentments | El resentimiento duró años. | The resentment lasted for years. |
| la plenitud | — | fulfillment | — | Alcancé la plenitud espiritual. | I reached spiritual fulfillment. |
Resentment lasted for years.
El resentimiento duró años.
"Resentimiento" means resentment, indicating a long-lasting negative feeling.
How to Express Feelings
Use estar + adjective to express how you feel. Most feeling adjectives end in -o (masculine) or -a (feminine).
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Estoy feliz hoy. | I am happy today. |
| Ellos están tristes. | They are sad. |
| ¿Estás enojado? | Are you angry? |
| Estamos preocupados. | We are worried. |
| Ella está cansada. | She is tired. |
Tips for Using Feelings Vocabulary
- Use me siento + adjective (I feel) for a more personal expression.
- To ask someone how they feel, say ¿Cómo te sientes?
- Some nouns can be used with tener (e.g., tener miedo, tener hambre).
- Be mindful of gender agreement: feliz (neutral), enojado/enojada, cansado/cansada, etc.
- Use context to choose between singular and plural forms (e.g., tristeza vs. tristezas).
What should you be mindful of when using feeling adjectives in Spanish?
Make sure the adjective agrees in gender (e.g., enojado/enojada).
Feeling adjectives must agree with the subject’s gender for proper grammar.
Conclusion
Mastering feelings vocabulary in Spanish allows you to communicate your emotional state clearly and empathetically. Practice these words and structures to enhance your conversational skills.
Flashcards (1 of 20)
- English Singular: happiness
- English Plural: happinesses
- Example (English): Happiness is important.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
