By Lingobi, Published on 03/22/2025
When learning Spanish, being able to express how you feel is essential for meaningful conversations. While you may know the common phrases like "Estoy feliz" (I am happy) or "Estoy triste" (I am sad), there are many other ways to describe your emotions more vividly and accurately. Let’s explore different ways to express feelings in Spanish!
In Spanish, certain verbs are commonly used to express emotions. Besides "estar" (to be), you can use verbs like:
Sentirse – To feel
• Me siento cansado. (I feel tired.)
• Ella se siente emocionada. (She feels excited.)
Tener – To have (used with certain states)
• Tengo miedo. (I am afraid.)
• Tenemos hambre. (We are hungry.)
Go beyond basic emotions and express yourself with more nuanced feelings:
Feliz → Alegre, contento, encantado
• Estoy encantado de verte. (I am delighted to see you.)
Triste → Melancólico, desanimado, afligido
• Me siento melancólico hoy. (I feel melancholic today.)
Spanish is full of idioms that express emotions in colorful ways:
Estar en las nubes → To be daydreaming
• Hoy estoy en las nubes. (Today I am daydreaming.)
Estar como una cabra → To be a little crazy
• Mi amigo está como una cabra. (My friend is a little crazy.)
In Spanish, you can soften or intensify feelings by using diminutives or augmentatives:
Diminutives: Add -ito/-ita to make feelings sound softer.
• Estoy cansadito. (I am a little tired.)
Augmentatives: Add -ón/-ona to make feelings more intense.
• Estoy enfadón. (I am very angry.)
By expanding your emotional vocabulary and using idiomatic expressions, you’ll be able to convey your feelings with greater depth and authenticity in Spanish conversations. Download Lingobi to practice expressing your emotions in real-life situations!
