Understanding feeling in French: navigating the depths of emotional vocabulary

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Do yo know three expressions to express feeling in French? – Here they are:

  • Tomber amoureux de quelqu’un
  • Avoir le béguin pour quelqu’un
  • Avoir un coup de foudre

Do you know any others to express other feelings?

If you read this article, you’ll know some SPECIFIC French words to say what you feel.
You’re just discovering, and it won’t be a discovery any more in a few minutes, when you reach the end of the article.

I’m Thomas Ricomard, I teach French as a foreign language to +100 students from all around the world.

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Feeling in French

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Maya Angelou

The complexities of feelings in French language

Understanding emotional vocabulary

Know and understand the vocabulary of what you feel to facilitate relationships.
It’s important to distinguish between émotion and sentiment.

The difference

Emotion

An emotion is an instantaneous reaction to a stimulus (internal or external). It is accompanied by physiological, cognitive and behavioral changes. What I feel can be positive (joy, love) or negative (anger, sadness).

Feeling

A feeling is durable, it can last over a long period of time. Feelings can originate from emotions. They are often influenced by factors such as culture, education and life experiences.

  • The more words I know, the more precisely I can express how I feel. This allows me to share my emotions and feelings with others, fostering mutual understanding.

  • Recognizing and understanding other people’s emotions is important for developing healthy relationships. Emotional communication enables us to create deeper bonds with others.

  • To manage your own emotions, it’s important to be aware of how you feel. Understanding emotional vocabulary enables you to regulate your emotions more effectively.

    • Expressing emotions in French: verbal and non-verbal cues

    Here’s a list illustrating various aspects of emotional expression:

    Verbal communication

    Words
    • Specific words to describe what you feels
      • nous sommes heureux (We’re happy)
      • tu es triste (You’re sad)
      • elle est en colère (She’s angry)
      • Elles sont surprises (They’re surprised)
      • etc.
    • Expressive adjectives to nuance the intensity of emotions
      • je suis ravi (I’m delighted)
      • elle est enthousiaste (She’s enthusiastic)
      • vous êtes déçus (You’re disappointed)
      • etc.
    Sentences
    • Common sentences to describe your emotional state
      • je me sens… (I fell…)
      • je suis vraiment… (I’m really…)
      • etc.
    • Express emotions directly
      • je suis content(e) (I’m happy)
      • ça me rend triste (this makes me sad)
      • etc.
    Verbs
    • The right verbs to express yourself
      • j’adore (I love)
      • je déteste (I hate)
      • je crains (I fear)
      • etc.
    • Reflexive verbs to indicate emotional introspection
      • je me demande (I wonder)
      • je m’inquiète (I worry)
      • etc.

    Click on this video to learn more French feeling words.

    Non-verbal communication

    Voice

    The voice changes according to the emotion felt.

    Body language

    You can use gestures to reinforce the emotion you want to show, such as applause to express satisfaction or clenched fists to show anger.
    Body posture changes according to the emotion you’re feeling.

    What the face says

    What the face says is a powerful indicator of emotion. A smile for joy, furrowed brows for concern, etc.
    Eyes can also reflect emotions: bright eyes for joy, an avoidant look for embarrassment, etc.

    To remember
    • Emotion is instantaneous and feeling is lasting.
    • Some words
      • On est surpris(e)
      • tu es ravi(e)
      • Il est enthousiaste
    Click here → Premium French Course
    Expressing joy in French
    To hurt sb’s feelings
    Blesser quelqu’un
    Faire de la peine à quelqu’un

    The art of describing feelings in French

    Here’s an exploration of some French idioms that convey specific emotions.

    Idiomatic phrases for emotional nuances

    1. Meaning
    2. Origin
    3. Un exemple

    Avoir le cœur sur la main
    1. To be generous and ready to help.
    2. The open hand symbolizes generosity and willingness to give.
    3. Tu as toujours eu le cœur sur la main, tu es un exemple pour tout le monde.

    Tomber dans les pommes
    1. To lose consciousness, to faint.
    2. The old French word pomme (apple) also meant ‘head’, so to fall into apples is like fainting.
    3. Elle a appris les nouvelles et elle est tombée dans les pommes.

    Avoir le cafard
    1. To be sad or depressed.
    2. The cockroach is an insect associated with dark, gloomy places, hence the connotation of sadness.
    3. Ils ont raté leur examen, ils ont le cafard.

    Casser les pieds à quelqu’un
    1. To annoy someone.
    2. The idea is that someone who is a pain in the ass can be irritating and tiresome.
    3. Tu me casses les pieds, j’en ai marre.

    Avoir le cœur serré
    1. To feel sadness or nostalgia.
    2. The image of a clenched heart evokes an oppressive emotion.
    3. J’ai le cœur serré, je me souviens de lui.

    Être aux anges
    1. To be extremely happy or delighted.
    2. The expression refers to the bliss associated with angels in religious tradition.
    3. Quand j’ai appris ça, j’étais aux anges.

    Être sur un petit nuage
    1. To be in a state of happiness or euphoria.
    2. The image of being on a cloud evokes a state of reverie and elation.
    3. On est sur un petit nuage, ce matin on a su qu’on partait en vacances demain.

    Adjectives and their intensity levels

    1. The moderate way of expressing it
    2. The subtle way

    Nous sommes heureux
    1. Content
    2. Satisfait, radieux

    Ils sont tristes
    1. Mélancolique
    2. Chagriné, morose

    Je suis en colère
    1. Irrité
    2. Contrarié, agacé

    Tu es fatigué
    1. Epuisé
    2. Ereinté, exténué

    Exercise

    What is your best sentence and your best adjective to express your emotions in French? Why? Write your answer in the comments.

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    • Different ways to express how you feel. Mixed feelings.

    But feelings can’t be ignored, no matter how unjust or ungrateful they seem.

    Anne Frank
    It’s a strange feeling
    C’est un sentiment étrange

    Cultural influences on emotional expression in French

    Regional variations in emotional language

    How are emotions expressed in different countries?

  • France
    • A nuanced emotional expression, with a balance between the formal and the informal.

  • Quebec (Canada)
    • Emotional expression is warmer and more familiar.

  • Belgium
    • Belgians are quite laid-back when it comes to expressing themselves. They sometimes mix French and Dutch.

  • Switzerland
    • The Swiss are more reserved and formal when it comes to expressing their emotions.

  • Senegal (Africa)
    • Emotional expressions are more lively and extroverted.

  • Morocco (Africa)
    • Emotional expression is somewhere between Arab and Berber. Politeness is important.

    Social norms and emotional conversations

    In France, what are the social norms concerning the expression of emotions?

  • Emotional control in public
    • Maintain emotional control in public. Showing too much joy or anger can be perceived as inappropriate.

  • Discretion in emotional expression
    • Be discreet in expressing emotions. Moderate reactions are preferred.

  • Politeness
    • Politeness is an essential component of emotional expression in France.

  • Valuing intellectual conversation
    • Conversation in France is often focused on intellectual topics. We can bring emotion into this context.

  • Importance of subtle facial expressions
    • Facial expressions are a crucial means of emotional communication in France. Subtle signals, such as discreet smiles or expressive glances, are often favored.

  • Humor
    • Humor can be used to lighten delicate situations, but is generally used with caution to avoid awkwardness.

    Exercise

    How do you express feelings in your own country? Write your answer in French, I’ll correct the language.

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    • Click here → Premium French Course
    Social French behavior for feelings

    Learning to feel in French: a guide for language learners

    Common challenges and tips for non-native speakers

    1. Difficulty
    2. Tip

    Nuances of expression
    1. Understanding adjectives.
    2. Read texts, watch films or series in French to immerse yourself in the variety of expressions.

    Intonation
    1. Adopt the right intonation.
    2. Listen carefully to native speakers. Use audio resources to practice intonation and rhythm.

    Cultural and social context
    1. Understanding cultural norms.
    2. Participate in linguistic exchanges, observing how native speakers express their emotions in a variety of contexts.

    Word choice
    1. Select the right words to express emotions accurately.
    2. Use a thesaurus, learn idiomatic expressions.

    Conjugation of emotional verbs
    1. Correctly conjugate verbs associated with emotions.
    2. Study conjugation.

    Understanding idiomatic expressions
    1. Use idiomatic expressions related to emotions.
    2. Learn them, ask native speakers for explanations, use them in everyday conversations.

    Fear of not being right
    1. The fear of misinterpreting or misusing them can inhibit communication.
    2. Ask natives for constructive feedback. Remember that mistakes are necessary for learning.

    Integrating emotive language into everyday French

    Emotions play an important role in relationships. An appropriate vocabulary linked to emotions strengthens understanding between people and deepens interpersonal bonds.

  • A rich vocabulary
    • Know more than just the basics, enrich your vocabulary with more subtle words.

  • Be authentic
    • Choose words that clearly express your feelings. Be specific in describing your emotions for clear communication.

  • Encourage empathy
    • Talk about your feelings, without barriers. Be authentic to create empathy in others.

  • Strengthening relationships
    • Develop stronger relationships by sharing your emotions openly and honestly.

  • Enrich the way you express your emotions
    • This makes your communications more lively and captivating. Express yourself with more subtle words and phrases to convey more elaborate emotions.

  • Reading
    • Read stories where emotion and feelings play an important role, to learn more vocabulary. Pay attention to how authors express themselves, and draw inspiration from them.

    Exercise

    Do you know another tip? Write your answer in French down below, I’ll correct it.

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    • Click here → Premium French Course
    FAQ for feelings

    FAQ

    What is the translation of ‘feeling’ in French?

    The translation of ‘feeling’ in French is sentiment or ressenti.

    What are some common French phrases to describe emotions?

    Je t’aime (I love you)
    Je ne suis pas content (I’m not happy)
    Je suis triste (I’m sad)

    What would be the French equivalent for ‘gut feeling’?

    ‘Gut feeling’ in French is intuition or pressentiment.

    You’ve come to the end.

    Let a comment down below if you feel it!

    Thomas, your teacher 🙂

    Resources

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/ie/basics/emotions

    https://www.jdpsychologues.fr/search/site/exprimer