{"id":58,"date":"2026-09-30T14:54:27","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T13:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leweb2ks.dev\/vitrine-vocadial\/en\/resources\/feelings-in-spanish\/"},"modified":"2026-09-30T14:54:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T13:54:27","slug":"feelings-in-spanish","status":"publish","type":"vd_ressource","link":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/resources\/feelings-in-spanish\/","title":{"rendered":"Feelings in Spanish: emotions, estar and agreement"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"asking-and-answering-how-are-you\">Asking and answering &#8220;How are you?&#8221;<\/h2>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo est\u00e1s?<\/span>: How are you? (to one friend, <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">t\u00fa<\/span>)<\/li><li><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00bfQu\u00e9 tal?<\/span>: How&#8217;s it going? (informal, very common)<\/li><li><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo est\u00e1 usted?<\/span>: How are you? (formal)<\/li><li><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo est\u00e1is?<\/span>: to several people, in Spain; <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo est\u00e1n?<\/span> everywhere else<\/li><li><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo te sientes?<\/span>: How do you feel? (more personal)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The answers form a scale, from best to worst:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00a1Genial!<\/span>: great<\/li><li><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Muy bien.<\/span>: very well<\/li><li><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Bien.<\/span>: fine<\/li><li><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Regular.<\/span> or <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">M\u00e1s o menos.<\/span>: so-so<\/li><li><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Mal.<\/span>: bad<\/li><li><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Fatal.<\/span>: awful (informal, especially in Spain)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then bounce the question back: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00bfY t\u00fa?<\/span> Textbooks often teach <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">as\u00ed as\u00ed<\/span> for &#8220;so-so&#8221;; it exists, but <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">regular<\/span> and <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">m\u00e1s o menos<\/span> are far more natural.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Bien<\/span> and <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">mal<\/span> are adverbs, so they never change: a girl says <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estoy bien<\/span>, not &#8220;estoy buena&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"adjectives-of-feeling\">Adjectives of feeling<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The masculine form is in the first column. Adjectives in -o change to -a in the feminine; the others stay the same.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table vocab say-es\"><table><thead><tr><th>Masculine<\/th><th>Feminine<\/th><th>English<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>contento<\/td><td>contenta<\/td><td>happy, pleased<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>feliz<\/td><td>feliz<\/td><td>happy<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>triste<\/td><td>triste<\/td><td>sad<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>cansado<\/td><td>cansada<\/td><td>tired<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>enfadado<\/td><td>enfadada<\/td><td>angry (Spain)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>enojado<\/td><td>enojada<\/td><td>angry (Latin America)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>nervioso<\/td><td>nerviosa<\/td><td>nervous<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>preocupado<\/td><td>preocupada<\/td><td>worried<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>aburrido<\/td><td>aburrida<\/td><td>bored<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>tranquilo<\/td><td>tranquila<\/td><td>calm<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>emocionado<\/td><td>emocionada<\/td><td>excited<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>sorprendido<\/td><td>sorprendida<\/td><td>surprised<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>asustado<\/td><td>asustada<\/td><td>scared<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>enfermo<\/td><td>enferma<\/td><td>ill<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>orgulloso<\/td><td>orgullosa<\/td><td>proud<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>avergonzado<\/td><td>avergonzada<\/td><td>embarrassed, ashamed<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pronunciation tips: the d between vowels in <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">cansado<\/span> or <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">enfadado<\/span> is soft, close to the th of &#8220;this&#8221;, and in relaxed speech in Spain it almost disappears. The rr of <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">aburrido<\/span> is rolled. The j of <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">enojado<\/span> is the throaty sound of Scottish &#8220;loch&#8221;. The z of <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">avergonzado<\/span> and <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">feliz<\/span> is a th in most of Spain and an s in Latin America.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"agreement-contento-or-contenta\">Agreement: contento or contenta?<\/h2>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list rules-list\"><li><strong>-o becomes -a.<\/strong> <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Estoy cansado<\/span> (boy), <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estoy cansada<\/span> (girl). The adjective agrees with the person who feels, not with the question.<\/li><li><strong>-e and consonant endings don&#8217;t change.<\/strong> <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">triste<\/span>, <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">alegre<\/span>, <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">feliz<\/span> are the same for everyone.<\/li><li><strong>Plurals add -s or -es.<\/strong> <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">contentos<\/span>, <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">tristes<\/span>, <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">felices<\/span> (z becomes c). A mixed group takes the masculine: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Estamos cansados.<\/span><\/li><li><strong><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Usted<\/span> agrees with the real person.<\/strong> To a female teacher: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00bfEst\u00e1 usted cansada?<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ser-or-estar\">Ser or estar?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Feelings are states, so they take <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estar<\/span>: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estoy triste<\/span>, <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">est\u00e1 nerviosa<\/span>. Some adjectives change meaning with <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">ser<\/span>, which is worth showing to pupils from KS3:<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table vocab\"><table><thead><tr><th>Adjective<\/th><th>With ser<\/th><th>With estar<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>aburrido<\/td><td>boring<\/td><td>bored<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>listo<\/td><td>clever<\/td><td>ready<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>malo<\/td><td>bad<\/td><td>ill (Spain)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>nervioso<\/td><td>a nervous person<\/td><td>nervous right now<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>tranquilo<\/td><td>a calm person<\/td><td>calm right now<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Feliz<\/span> works with both: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">soy feliz<\/span> (I&#8217;m happy in life) and <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estoy feliz<\/span> (I&#8217;m happy right now) are both correct.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other ways to express feelings<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some feelings use <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">tener<\/span> + noun, where English uses &#8220;be&#8221; + adjective: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">tengo miedo<\/span> (I&#8217;m scared), <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">tengo sue\u00f1o<\/span> (I&#8217;m sleepy), <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">tengo hambre<\/span> (I&#8217;m hungry), <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">tengo verg\u00fcenza<\/span> (I&#8217;m embarrassed). &#8220;Very&#8221; is then <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">mucho<\/span> or <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">mucha<\/span>: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">tengo mucho miedo<\/span>, <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">tengo mucha hambre<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Others use the reflexive <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">sentirse<\/span>: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">me siento solo<\/span>, <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">me siento mejor<\/span>. And many use a verb like <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">gustar<\/span>: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">me da miedo<\/span> (it scares me), <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">me pone nervioso<\/span> (it makes me nervous).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two more phrases pupils love, because they sound like real teenage Spanish: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estoy de buen humor<\/span> or <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">de mal humor<\/span> (I&#8217;m in a good or bad mood), and <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estoy harto<\/span> or <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estoy harta<\/span> (I&#8217;m fed up). Like the other adjectives, <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">harto<\/span> agrees with the speaker; <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">humor<\/span> does not change.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"example wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Estoy contenta porque es viernes.<\/span><small>I&#8217;m happy because it&#8217;s Friday. (said by a girl)<\/small><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"example wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Mi hermano est\u00e1 enfadado conmigo.<\/span><small>My brother is angry with me.<\/small><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"example wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Hoy estamos muy cansados.<\/span><small>We&#8217;re very tired today.<\/small><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"example wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Tengo miedo de las ara\u00f1as.<\/span><small>I&#8217;m scared of spiders.<\/small><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"note wp-block-paragraph\">Three false friends catch English speakers every year. <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Embarazada<\/span> means pregnant, not embarrassed: use <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">avergonzado\/a<\/span> or <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">me da verg\u00fcenza<\/span>. <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Excitado\/a<\/span> often has a sexual meaning: for &#8220;excited&#8221;, use <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">emocionado\/a<\/span> or, in Spain, <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">ilusionado\/a<\/span>. And <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estoy constipado<\/span> means &#8220;I&#8217;ve got a cold&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"typical-mistakes-of-english-speaking-learners\">Typical mistakes of English-speaking learners<\/h2>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Ser instead of estar:<\/strong> &#8220;Soy cansado&#8221; for <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estoy cansado<\/span>.<\/li><li><strong>No agreement:<\/strong> a girl saying &#8220;estoy contento&#8221;. Train pupils to check their own ending.<\/li><li><strong>&#8220;Estoy bueno\/buena&#8221;:<\/strong> this means &#8220;I&#8217;m good-looking&#8221; in colloquial Spanish. &#8220;I&#8217;m good&#8221; is <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estoy bien<\/span>.<\/li><li><strong>Be + fear:<\/strong> &#8220;estoy miedo&#8221; instead of <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">tengo miedo<\/span>.<\/li><li><strong>&#8220;Estoy aburrido&#8221; and &#8220;soy aburrido&#8221; mixed up:<\/strong> bored versus boring.<\/li><li><strong>False friends:<\/strong> <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">embarazada<\/span>, <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">excitado<\/span>.<\/li><li><strong>Regional forms marked wrong:<\/strong> <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">enojado<\/span> is standard in Latin America, not a mistake.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"in-class-a-feelings-check-in\">In class: a feelings check-in<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A daily check-in practises the most frequent verb in Spanish, <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estar<\/span>, and makes agreement audible every single day.<\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list steps-list\"><li>Show a face on the board, for example someone yawning.<\/li><li>Ask <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo est\u00e1?<\/span> The class answers <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Est\u00e1 cansado<\/span> or <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Est\u00e1 cansada<\/span>.<\/li><li>Reveal both the masculine and feminine forms, so the agreement is visible to everyone.<\/li><li>Turn it round: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Y t\u00fa, \u00bfc\u00f3mo est\u00e1s?<\/span> Three or four pupils answer with their own ending.<\/li><li>Push for a reason: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00bfPor qu\u00e9?<\/span> <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Estoy cansado porque tengo educaci\u00f3n f\u00edsica.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is exactly what a short daily routine offers: one structure, repeated with real variety, corrected on the spot.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A word of care: a check-in touches on real feelings. Let pupils give a &#8220;classroom answer&#8221; rather than their true mood if they prefer, and never insist.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other activities: emotion charades, a &#8220;how would you feel if\u2026&#8221; card game (<span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Si pierdo el m\u00f3vil, estoy\u2026<\/span>), or a feelings diary at the end of the week.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adapting to your class<\/h3>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list levels-list\"><li><b>A1<\/b>One phrase: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Estoy bien.<\/span> <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Estoy cansada.<\/span><\/li><li><b>A2<\/b>Add a reason: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Estoy contento porque hace sol.<\/span><\/li><li><b>B1<\/b>Past and change: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Ayer estaba nerviosa, pero hoy estoy tranquila.<\/span><\/li><li><b>B2<\/b>Feelings with the subjunctive: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Me alegra que est\u00e9s aqu\u00ed.<\/span> <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Me preocupa que no haya tiempo.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At KS2, a feelings chart with faces is enough. At KS3, insist on <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estar<\/span> and agreement. At GCSE, feelings run through every theme, from relationships to school pressure: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">Estoy agobiado por los ex\u00e1menes.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00bfC\u00f3mo est\u00e1s? Estoy contento, estoy contenta: the key emotion adjectives, agreement, ser or estar, and the traps for English speakers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"menu_order":3,"template":"","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Feelings in Spanish: Emotions and Estar | VocaDial","_seopress_titles_desc":"How to say how you feel in Spanish: \u00bfC\u00f3mo est\u00e1s?, estar + adjective, contento or contenta, ser or estar, false friends, and a daily check-in routine.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"_vd_topic":"emotions","_vd_target":"es","_vd_module":"emociones","_vd_level":"A1","_vd_minutes":"7","_vd_card_word":"contento\u2026","_vd_answer":"To ask how someone feels in Spanish, say <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo est\u00e1s?<\/span> or <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">\u00bfQu\u00e9 tal?<\/span> The answer uses <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estar<\/span> + an adjective that agrees with the speaker: a boy says <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estoy contento<\/span>, a girl says <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">estoy contenta<\/span>. Key feelings: <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">contento\/a<\/span> (happy), <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">triste<\/span> (sad), <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">cansado\/a<\/span> (tired), <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">enfadado\/a<\/span> (angry), <span class=\"tl\" lang=\"es\">nervioso\/a<\/span> (nervous).","_vd_faq":"[{\"q\":\"How do you say \\\"How are you?\\\" in Spanish?\",\"a\":\"<span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo est\u00e1s?<\\\/span> to a friend, <span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo est\u00e1 usted?<\\\/span> formally, or simply <span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">\u00bfQu\u00e9 tal?<\\\/span>\"},{\"q\":\"How do you say \\\"I'm happy\\\" in Spanish?\",\"a\":\"<span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">Estoy contento<\\\/span> (boy) or <span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">estoy contenta<\\\/span> (girl). <span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">Estoy feliz<\\\/span> is the same for both.\"},{\"q\":\"Why do you use estar and not ser for feelings?\",\"a\":\"Feelings are temporary states, and states take <span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">estar<\\\/span>. With <span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">ser<\\\/span>, some adjectives change meaning: <span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">estoy aburrido<\\\/span> (I'm bored), <span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">soy aburrido<\\\/span> (I'm boring).\"},{\"q\":\"How do you say \\\"I'm excited\\\" in Spanish?\",\"a\":\"<span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">Estoy emocionado\\\/a<\\\/span>, or in Spain <span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">estoy ilusionado\\\/a<\\\/span>. Avoid <span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">excitado<\\\/span>, which often has a sexual meaning.\"},{\"q\":\"Is it enfadado or enojado?\",\"a\":\"Both mean angry. <span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">Enfadado<\\\/span> is the usual word in Spain; <span class=\\\"tl\\\" lang=\\\"es\\\">enojado<\\\/span> is the usual word in Latin America.\"}]","_vd_key":"emotions-es","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-58","vd_ressource","type-vd_ressource","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vd_ressource\/58","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vd_ressource"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/vd_ressource"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vd_ressource\/58\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}