Emotions are reflections of our thoughts and feelings in response to external stimuli. However, expressing emotions in English can be challenging if your vocabulary is limited. This guide from IDP provides a curated list of emotional vocabulary in English to support your learning journey.
1. Overview of Emotional Vocabulary
Emotional vocabulary in English consists of words that describe human or animal emotional states. These words help convey moods and feelings toward people, events, or surroundings—ranging from joy and excitement to fear or anger. Emotional vocabulary is frequently used in both spoken and written communication, allowing for deeper connection and clearer expression.
2. Common Emotional Vocabulary Words
Below is a categorized table of positive and negative emotional vocabulary in English:
Vocabulary | Meaning |
Happiness | Joy or contentment |
Caring | Showing concern or kindness |
Depression | Deep sadness or hopelessness |
Fear | Feeling afraid |
Confusion | Lack of clarity or understanding |
Hurt | Emotional pain |
Loneliness | Feeling isolated |
Remorse | Deep regret |
Ecstatic | Extremely happy |
Elated | Joyful, overjoyed |
Energetic | Full of energy |
Enthusiastic | Eager or passionate |
Exhilarated | Extremely excited |
Overjoyed | Extremely happy |
Thrilled | Very excited |
Vibrant | Full of life or energy |
Adoring | Loving deeply |
Alienated | Feeling isolated or excluded |
Dejected | Downcast, disheartened |
Dismal | Gloomy or depressing |
Hopeless | Without hope |
Woeful | Full of sorrow |
Feeble | Weak or lacking strength |
Helpless | Unable to act or assist |
Appalled | Shocked and outraged |
Desperate | Extreme urgency or hopelessness |
Intimidated | Feeling threatened or fearful |
Panicky | Sudden uncontrollable fear |
Stunned | Shocked or amazed |
Furious | Extremely angry |
Vindictive | Seeking revenge |
Abandoned | Left alone or deserted |
Neglected | Ignored or not cared for |
Outcast | Socially excluded |
Cheerful | Happy and optimistic |
Light-hearted | Carefree and happy |
Kind-hearted | Gentle and compassionate |
Sympathetic | Understanding and caring |
Downcast | Depressed or gloomy |
Upset | Troubled or distressed |
Nervous | Anxious or uneasy |
Troubled | Experiencing problems or worries |
Bewildered | Confused and puzzled |
3. Common Questions and Answers About Emotions
Understanding how to talk about emotions can make your English sound more natural and relatable. Below are some useful questions and structures:
Common Questions:
How are you feeling today?
How are you feeling?
How do you feel?
Are you happy?
Do you feel stressed?
Response Structures:
I feel + adjective: I feel amazing!
I am + adjective: I am exhausted.
I get + adjective: I get nervous in big crowds.
I’m feeling + adjective: I’m feeling great.
S + looks + adjective: He looks delighted.
4. Phrases and Idioms to Express Emotions
Common Collocations:
Collocation | Meaning |
To hide your emotions | Conceal how you feel |
To be overcome with emotion | Feel overwhelmed by emotion |
Overwhelming emotion | Intense emotion |
Pent-up emotions | Bottled-up feelings |
To show your emotions | Express feelings openly |
Raw emotion | Pure and intense emotion |
To be full of emotion | Deeply emotional |
To be choked with emotion | Too emotional to speak |
Popular Idioms:
Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
Over the moon | Extremely happy | She was over the moon when she got the job. |
Down in the dumps | Feeling sad or depressed | He’s been down in the dumps since his friend moved. |
Blow a fuse | Become very angry | He blew a fuse when he saw the damage. |
Get cold feet | Become nervous before doing something planned | She got cold feet before her big presentation. |
On cloud nine | Extremely happy | They were on cloud nine after winning. |
Green with envy | Jealous | She was green with envy over her friend’s success. |
Bite the bullet | Face something difficult bravely | He bit the bullet and told her the truth. |
Wear your heart on your sleeve | Show emotions openly | He wears his heart on his sleeve. |
Break down | Become emotional and cry | She broke down when she heard the news. |
Choke up | Get emotional and unable to speak | He choked up during his farewell. |
Carry the torch for | Secretly love someone | He still carries the torch for his ex. |
Chip on your shoulder | Holding a grudge or being sensitive about something | He has a chip on his shoulder about being rejected. |
Go to pieces | Fall apart emotionally | She went to pieces after the breakup. |
Be in a stew | Be worried or anxious | She’s in a stew over her exam results. |
5. Tips to Remember Emotional Vocabulary
Here are a few strategies to help you remember emotional vocabulary effectively:
Learn in context: Use example sentences or stories to reinforce meaning.
Group by emotion types: Such as happy, sad, angry, anxious, etc.
Use fun learning tools: Flashcards, movies, books, and language apps.
Create personal stories: Make up short scenarios using the words.
Practice regularly: Apply vocabulary in daily reading, writing, or speaking.
6. Practice Exercise: Fill in the Emotional Adjective
Word bank: intrigued, astonished, frustrated, elated, disheartened, bewildered, apprehensive, mesmerised, relieved, disillusioned
Complete the sentences below:
Sarah felt completely ___________ by the complexity of the situation.
I was ___________ to see how quickly he learned the new skill.
Despite her hard work, Jane felt ___________ when she didn’t get the promotion.
The beauty of the scenery left us all ___________.
Mark was ___________ after finishing the challenging project.
We felt ___________ to learn that the exam was postponed.
He was ___________ by the lack of integrity in the industry.
The sudden change in her attitude left me ___________.
As the deadline approached, he became more ___________.
The team was ___________ after losing the final by one point.
Answers:
bewildered
astonished
disheartened
mesmerised
elated
relieved
disillusioned
intrigued
apprehensive
frustrated
Master Emotional Vocabulary with IDP
With the right strategies and consistent practice, mastering emotional vocabulary in English becomes much easier and more enjoyable. By learning how to express your feelings naturally, you’ll connect better with others and perform more effectively in your IELTS exam.
If you're preparing for your IELTS test with IDP, you can take advantage of computer-delivered testing, explore convenient test locations, and benefit from flexible weekly schedules. You can also attend IDP IELTS workshops to stay updated with the latest exam tips.
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