Unless you’re a master at bottling up your feelings (we don’t recommend this strategy), you probably let your emotions get the best of you sometimes. And that’s okay! The best way to cope with how you feel is to talk about it — and that’s true regardless of what language you speak. Around the world, people have a rich and robust set of words and expressions that let them talk about what’s going on beneath the surface. So if you’re learning French, it only makes sense that you’ll want to be able to talk about your feelings in French, too.
Chances are, you’re going to experience some sort of emotion when you’re in a French-speaking context. Maybe you’re frustrated about fudged travel plans, whether it’s missing a train connection in Paris or being unable to find a taxi in Toulouse. Or perhaps you’re just happy to be spending a day with your French-speaking friend and you want to make it known. Whatever the situation, knowing how to talk about your emotions in French is sure to come in handy.
Here are all the terms you need to talk about your feelings in French. Note that the adjectives below will need to be adjusted depending on the gender of the noun they’re describing (they’re listed here in the masculine, singular form). You can click the play button next to each of the words to hear them pronounced by a native speaker.
Talking About Your Feelings In French
French Emotion Words
the emotion — l’émotion
the mood — l’humeur
happy — content
sad — triste
excited — excité
the joy — la joie
the love — l’amour
the hate — la haine
angry — en colère
to feel — se sentir
the feeling — le sentiment
the hope — l’espoir
depressed — déprimé
the sympathy — la compassion
lonely — seul
satisfied — satisfait
proud — fier
disappointed — déçu
upset — irrité
to get over — laisser tomber
to like, to love — aimer
French Emotion Phrases
I like you. — Je t’aime bien.
I have a strange feeling. — J’ai un sentiment bizarre.
I am in a good mood today. — Je suis de bonne humeur aujourd’hui.
It is exasperating! — Je commence à désespérer !
I’m afraid. — J’ai peur.
He has the blues today. — Il est mélancolique aujourd’hui.
I love you. — Je t’aime.
Why are you sad? — Pourquoi tu es triste?
Are you happy with her? — Tu es heureux avec elle?
I am so unhappy. — Je suis tellement malheureux.
French Sensation Words
the sensation — la sensation
the pleasure — le plaisir
the hunger — la faim
the thirst — la soif
the pain — la douleur
the surprise — la surprise
nervous — nerveux
tired — fatigué
the fear — la peur
to get bored — s’ennuyer