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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.

Register for your IELTS test with IDP today and enjoy exclusive benefits designed to help you succeed!

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About this Article

Published on 15 November, 2024

About this Author

One Skill Retake - IELTS Australia
Quynh Khanh

Tôi là Quỳnh Khanh - Content Writer có hơn 5 năm kinh nghiệm về lĩnh vực giáo dục