French Lesson: How To Describe Your Feelings

Author
Written byAmélie Pinon

Here are some important expressions to describe how you feel in French.

Don't forget to try to mix them up with other pronouns so you get to practice the different forms of etre.

How to say "I feel..." and ask "How do you feel?" in French

If you want to say "I feel" in French, you should say je me sens... followed by the adjective or noun that describes the way you feel.

For example:

Je me sens triste.

I feel sad.

Je me sens fatigué(e).

I feel tired.

Je me sens malade.

I feel sick.

NOTE: For these, it's often better to just say "I am sad", "I am sick" (je suis fatigué, je suis malade).

To ask a person "How do you feel?" in French, you can use Comment vous sentez-vous ? or Comment te sens-tu ? (depending on the level of formality).

For example:

Comment vous sentez-vous après votre opération ?

How do you feel after your surgery?

Comment te sens-tu aujourd'hui ?

How do you feel today?

Basic emotions in French

Here are some of the most essential feelings in French.

FrançaisEnglish
JoieJoy
ColèreAnger
TristesseSadness
PeurFear
SurpriseSurprise
DégoûtDisgust

Although it's not an "emotion", you should also learn "tiredness" in French, which is fatigue.

Je suis fatigue.

I am tired.

Je suis heureux / joyeux.

I am happy.

Je suis triste.

I am sad.

Je suis nerveux(se).

I am nervous.

Je suis fache.

I am angry.

Je suis excite.

I am excited.

Je suis ravi(e).

I'm delighted.

Now, we can do the same with avoir:

J'ai faim.

I'm hungry.

J'ai soif.

I'm thirsty.

J'ai froid.

I'm cold.

J'ai chaud.

I'm hot.

Detailed list of French emotions and feelings

For a more detailed and advanced list of emotions, see below.

FrançaisEnglish
JoieJoy
ColèreAnger
TristesseSadness
PeurFear
AmourLove
SurpriseSurprise
DégoûtDisgust
JalousieJealousy
EnnuiBoredom
ExcitationExcitement
ConfianceConfidence
FiertéPride
HonteShame
EspoirHope
InquiétudeWorry
DéceptionDisappointment
CompassionCompassion
SolitudeLoneliness
EnnuiBoredom
CuriositéCuriosity
AdmirationAdmiration
RegretRegret
NostalgieNostalgia
AnxiétéAnxiety
InjusticeInjustice
ReconnaissanceGratitude
RemordsRemorse
MéprisContempt
ÉmerveillementAwe
ÉnervementIrritation
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French Lesson: How To Describe Your Feelings
In this lesson, you'll learn some important words and expressions for describing how you feel in French.
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