Topics / Emotions Vocabulary
Emotions and Feelings Vocabulary in English
Happy, anxious, proud, and the words for how we feel and how we treat other people. 104 words, A1 to C1.
104 words
Everyday Feelings
HappyA1Feeling pleased and glad.“The children look happy.”UnhappyA1Not happy; sad.“He was unhappy about the result.”SadA1Unhappy.“He looks sad today.”GladA2Pleased and happy about something.“I am glad you came to the party.”CheerfulB1Happy and showing it; making other people feel happier.“A cheerful receptionist does not shorten the waiting list.”ExcitedA2Feeling very happy and eager about something that will happen.“The children were excited about the trip.”BoredA2Feeling tired and unhappy because something is not interesting.“The students felt bored during the long speech.”LonelyA2Unhappy because you are alone.“She felt lonely in the new city.”CalmA2Peaceful and not worried, angry, or excited.“Try to stay calm before the exam.”WorriedA2Unhappy because you think something bad may happen.“Mum looked worried when the train was late.”NervousA2Worried or slightly afraid about something that is going to happen.“He felt nervous before the interview.”AfraidA2Feeling fear; frightened.“The child was afraid of the dark.”ScaredA2Frightened; feeling fear.“She is scared of large dogs.”AngryA2Feeling strong displeasure about something unfair or wrong.“She was angry about the delay.”UpsetA2Unhappy, worried, or disappointed because of something.“She was upset when the trip was cancelled.”ProudA2Pleased because of something you or someone close to you has done.“Her parents are proud of her.”ShyA2Nervous with people you do not know well; not confident in groups.“He is shy with new classmates at first.”ConfidentB1Sure about your abilities or that something will happen.“She felt confident about the exam.”LoveA1To like someone or something very much.“I love my family.”HateA1To dislike someone or something very much.“I hate getting up early.”LikeA1To enjoy something or find it nice.“I like tea.”EnjoyA2To get pleasure from something.“I enjoy walking in the evening.”PreferA2To like one thing more than another.“I prefer tea to coffee.”MissA2To fail to hit, catch, or attend something, or to feel sad because someone is not there.“Hurry, or you will miss the bus.”CareA2To look after someone, or to feel that something is important.“She cares about her friends and takes care of her brother.”CryA2To produce tears because you are sad, hurt, or strongly moved.“The baby cried all night.”LaughA1To make a sound that shows you think something is funny.“The joke made us laugh.”SmileA2To make your mouth show you are happy or friendly.“She smiled at the children.”FrownB2To pull the eyebrows together to show worry, anger, or concentration; as a noun, that look.“Describe the frown in the still, then the line it follows, the drama paper said.”MoodB1The way you feel at a particular time.“He is in a good mood today.”FeelingA2An emotion, or something you notice in your body.“A feeling of relief came when we saw our bags.”EmotionB1A strong feeling such as love, fear, or anger.“She found it hard to hide her emotion.”
Stronger States
AnxiousB1Worried and not able to relax.“He felt anxious before the interview.”StressB1Mental pressure caused by problems or too much work.“Exam stress is common in May.”PanicA2A sudden strong feeling of fear that makes it hard to think clearly.“There was a short panic when someone shouted “Fire!”.”ShockA2A sudden, strong feeling of surprise, often unpleasant.“The news came as a shock to everyone.”FuriousB1Extremely angry.“Residents were furious about overnight roadworks outside the hospital.”MiserableA2Very unhappy, or making you feel very unhappy.“He felt miserable after he missed the last bus.”AshamedB1Feeling bad because you have done something wrong or embarrassing.“He felt ashamed of his rude comment.”EmbarrassedA2Feeling shy or ashamed because of something silly or private.“He felt embarrassed when he forgot her name.”GuiltyB1Having done something illegal or wrong, or feeling bad about it.“The jury found him guilty of the crime.”DisappointedB1Sad because something was worse than you hoped.“Candidates were disappointed when the results portal crashed.”HopefulA2Feeling that something good may happen.“She is hopeful about the exam results.”GratefulB1Feeling that you want to thank someone.“I am grateful for your help.”SatisfiedA2Pleased because something is as good as you wanted.“The teacher was satisfied with our homework.”JealousA2Unhappy because you want what another person has.“She felt jealous of her sister’s new bike.”EnvyB2The feeling of wanting what someone else has; as a verb, to feel that way (usually uncountable as a feeling).“Envy in the ethics extract still needs the named example, not a caption about “wanting more”.”EnviousB2Wanting what someone else has (envious of).“Calling a character envious is not analysis; quote the line, the literature paper said.”GriefB1Deep sadness, especially after a death (uncountable).“The charity offers support for grief after sudden loss.”LossB1The fact of no longer having something, or money spent more than earned.“The team’s loss surprised everyone.”HurtA2To cause pain, or to feel pain.“I hurt my hand when I fell.”PainA2An unpleasant feeling in your body when you are hurt or ill.“She felt a sharp pain in her knee.”FearA2The feeling that something bad may happen.“She has a fear of flying.”AngerB1A strong feeling of being very annoyed.“He could not hide his anger after the unfair decision.”DepressionB1A medical condition of deep, lasting low mood; also a period of falling trade.“The clinic offers support for depression after redundancy.”AnxietyB1A feeling of worry or fear about what may happen.“She felt a lot of anxiety before the interview.”InsecureB2Not confident; also not safe or not firmly fixed.“Candidates felt insecure about oral grades after the recording failed.”CowardB2A person who is too afraid to do something difficult or dangerous.“Calling a witness a coward is not analysis; quote the named fear in the source.”BraveA2Ready to face danger or pain without showing fear.“The brave firefighter went into the burning house.”ReliefC1A lessening of pain, worry, or pressure; also aid, or a person who takes over a duty.“Relief that the film looks good does not staff the sitting.”AmazedA2Very surprised.“We were amazed at how cheap the train was.”ConfusedA2Unable to think clearly or understand something.“I felt confused by the new timetable.”CuriousA2Wanting to know or learn something.“Children are naturally curious about the world.”HopeA2To want something to happen and believe that it is possible.“I hope you have a good trip.”DelightB2A feeling of great pleasure; as a verb, to give that pleasure (delight in).“Delight in the source is still not analysis; name the finding, the paper said.”JoyA2A feeling of great happiness.“The news filled her with joy.”PleasureB2A feeling of happiness or enjoyment; something that causes it.“Pleasure in the poem is not a mark-scheme heading; quote the image.”
How We Treat People
KindA2Friendly and good to other people.“Thank you. That is very kind.”CruelA2Causing pain or unhappiness on purpose.“It is cruel to laugh at someone’s mistakes.”GentleA2Kind, calm, and not rough.“Be gentle with the kitten.”PatientA2Able to wait without getting angry.“Please be patient. The doctor is busy.”ImpatientB1Annoyed because you have to wait, or eager for something to happen now.“Passengers grew impatient after the third delay announcement.”EmpathyC1The ability to understand another person’s feelings.“Good teachers show empathy.”CompassionC1Sympathy for someone’s suffering, together with a wish to help.“The nurse treated the patients with real compassion.”ComfortB1A feeling of being relaxed, warm, and free from pain or worry.“She sat in comfort by the fire after the long walk.”ConsoleB2To comfort someone who is unhappy; as a noun (/ˈkɒnsəʊl/), a panel of controls or a games machine.“Console the witness in the narrative; do not skip the named loss.”EncourageA2To give someone hope or confidence to do something.“My parents encouraged me to keep learning.”SupportB1To help someone by giving money, care, or agreement.“Friends supported her during the exam period.”TrustB1To believe that someone is honest or that something is safe.“I trust her to keep a secret.”DoubtB1A feeling of not being sure about something.“I have no doubt that she will pass.”OffendA2To make someone upset or angry by what you say or do.“I did not mean to offend you with that joke.”InsultB1To say or do something rude that offends someone.“He insulted the referee and was sent off.”RegretC1To feel sorry about something you did or did not do; also (noun) that feeling.“Regret after an embargo leak does not rewind the timestamp.”SorryA1Used when you feel bad about something you did, or when you cannot help.“I am sorry I am late.”PrideB2A feeling of pleasure in something you have done; also too high an opinion of yourself.“Civic pride in the source is not a funding stream; quote the budget line.”EmbarrassmentB1A feeling of being awkward or ashamed; also something that causes that feeling.“The leaked email was an embarrassment for the department.”JealousyB1An unhappy or angry feeling because someone has what you want (often uncountable).“There was open jealousy in the team when one intern was kept on.”ResentmentC1Bitter anger at being treated unfairly.“Unpaid overtime bred resentment, not loyalty.”ResentC1To feel bitter or angry about something you think is unfair.“Night staff will resent a launch film that skips their sitting.”GuiltB1The fact of having done something wrong; also the unhappy feeling after it (often uncountable).“He admitted guilt at the first hearing to shorten the case.”BoredomB1The feeling of being bored (uncountable).“Boredom in the waiting room made the delay feel longer.”ExcitementA2A feeling of being happy, interested, and full of energy.“There was great excitement when the plane took off.”HappinessA2The state of being happy.“Family is a big part of her happiness.”TemperB2A tendency to become angry, or a short burst of anger; as a verb, to make a claim less extreme.“He lost his temper in the hearing; the minutes still recorded the vote.”OutburstB2A sudden expression of strong feeling, or a sudden start of something.“An outburst in the hearing still went on the record, the minutes said.”OptimisticB2Believing that good things will happen, or that a situation will improve.“Analysts are cautiously optimistic about next year’s growth.”PositiveB1Hopeful and confident, or sure that something is true.“Keep a positive attitude.”NegativeB1Bad, harmful, or saying no.“Try not to be negative about small errors.”SensitiveB2Easily upset, or needing careful handling; also able to measure small changes.“Names in the sensitive file stay off the shared drive, safeguarding said.”InsensitiveC1Not noticing or caring about other people’s feelings; also not affected by something.“An insensitive cut of the night bus is a timetable minute, not “character”.”EmotionalB2Connected with feelings; also showing strong feelings.“The documentary was an emotional account of the inquiry.”EnthusiasticB1Showing a lot of excitement and interest.“Governors were enthusiastic about the extra tutoring hours.”PassionateA2Having or showing very strong feelings.“She is passionate about helping new students.”InterestedA1Wanting to know or learn about something.“I am interested in music.”