The word émotion is the most direct translation for “emotion” in French. But the French language, rich and expressive, offers a palette of words to describe the vast landscape of human feelings.

Just saying you feel an 'emotion' can be a bit vague, right?

Whether you're feeling a fleeting sensation, a deep-seated sentiment, or an overwhelming passion, there's a specific French word for it. Let's dive into 9 different ways to talk about your emotions in French and add some color to your conversations!

1. The standard 'emotion' – une émotion

The most fundamental and direct word for 'emotion' in French is une émotion.

Une émotion is the most common, all-purpose French word for “emotion.” It functions almost exactly like its English counterpart, referring to a strong feeling deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others.

A key point for learners is that émotion is a feminine noun. This means it always takes feminine articles and adjectives. For example:

• une émotion forte (a strong emotion)
• la même émotion (the same emotion)

This term is highly versatile and is appropriate in virtually any context, from casual conversation (J'ai ressenti une drôle d'émotion - I felt a strange emotion) to formal or academic writing (L'étude analyse les émotions humaines - The study analyzes human emotions).

While often used interchangeably in daily speech, there's a subtle distinction between une émotion and un sentiment (a feeling). An émotion is often seen as more immediate, intense, and reactive (like a surge of joy or anger). A sentiment can be more lasting and complex (like love, nostalgia, or trust). For most situations, however, émotion is the perfect go-to word.

You will frequently encounter émotion in set phrases that are useful to memorize:

• ressentir une émotion: to feel an emotion
• cacher ses émotions: to hide one's emotions
• être submergé(e) par l'émotion: to be overwhelmed by emotion

💡 * Il a du mal à exprimer ses émotions.

• La joie est une émotion puissante.
• J'ai ressenti une vive émotion en la revoyant.
• Ne laissez pas vos émotions contrôler vos décisions.
• Le film était plein d'émotion.

The 'feeling' – un sentiment

When you want to talk about a deeper, more lasting emotion in French, the word you'll often reach for is un sentiment.

While it translates directly to 'a feeling,' un sentiment is not used for a fleeting physical sensation or a sudden emotional outburst. Instead, it describes a more profound, enduring emotional state that develops over time, such as love, friendship, jealousy, or gratitude.

You'll typically use un sentiment to describe the complex emotions that define relationships and long-term perspectives. It's about the state of your heart or mind rather than a momentary reaction.

Remember that sentiment is a masculine noun (un sentiment, le sentiment). It is commonly paired with verbs like avoir (to have a feeling) or the more formal éprouver (to experience/feel a feeling), as in j'ai un sentiment or j'éprouve un sentiment.

It's helpful to contrast un sentiment with une émotion. An émotion (like joy, anger, or surprise) is often seen as a more immediate, intense, and short-lived reaction, whereas a sentiment is the more stable feeling that might result from or linger after an emotion.

💡 * L'amour est le plus beau des sentiments. (Love is the most beautiful of feelings.)

• J'ai un sentiment étrange à propos de cette situation. (I have a strange feeling about this situation.)
• Il ne faut pas cacher ses sentiments. (You shouldn't hide your feelings.)
• Elle éprouve un sentiment de culpabilité. (She feels a sense of guilt.)

The 'passion' – une passion

When you want to talk about a strong interest, hobby, or deep enthusiasm in French, the word you're looking for is une passion. This is a helpful cognate, as it looks and means almost exactly the same as the English word "passion," making it very easy for learners to remember and use.

A key point to remember is that passion is a feminine noun in French. This means it will always be paired with feminine articles. You will say une passion (a passion) or la passion (the passion). Forgetting this can be a common mistake for beginners.

The most frequent way to express that you have a passion for something is by using the verb avoir (to have). The structure is J'ai une passion pour... followed by the thing you are passionate about. This translates directly to "I have a passion for..."

Just like in English, une passion can refer to romantic feelings (la passion amoureuse), but it's far more commonly used to discuss hobbies and interests. Whether you're talking about cooking, cinema, or sports, une passion is the perfect word to show your dedication.

💡 * Le cinéma est ma plus grande passion. (Cinema is my greatest passion.)

• Il a une passion pour les voitures anciennes. (He has a passion for old cars.)
• Quelle est ta passion ? (What is your passion?)
• Elle parle de son travail avec passion. (She speaks about her work with passion.)

1. The 'mood' – une humeur

The direct French translation for 'mood' is une humeur. It’s a core vocabulary word for expressing emotional states and feelings.

As indicated by the article une, the word humeur is a feminine noun. This is crucial for correct adjective agreement, leading to phrases like une bonne humeur (a good mood) or une mauvaise humeur (a bad mood).

The most common way to use this word is in the expression être de bonne/mauvaise humeur, which literally means 'to be of good/bad mood' and is the standard way to say you are 'in a good/bad mood'.

The 'h' in humeur is what's called an h muet (a mute h). This means you create a liaison with the preceding word. For instance, d'humeur sounds like one continuous word, not de humeur.

💡 * Je suis de bonne humeur aujourd'hui.

• Son humeur peut changer très rapidement.
• Ne fais pas attention à lui, il est de mauvaise humeur ce matin.
• La musique a une grande influence sur mon humeur.

The 'state of mind' – un état d'âme

The expression un état d'âme literally translates to 'a state of soul' and goes much deeper than the simple English phrase 'state of mind.'

Un état d'âme refers to a complex emotional or psychological state, often one involving deep introspection, moodiness, scruples, or sentimental hesitation. It points to the inner stirrings of the conscience or soul.

This phrase is most powerful and frequently used in its negative form: ne pas avoir d'états d'âme or sans états d'âme. This means to act decisively, without hesitation, moral qualms, or second thoughts. It can imply a certain ruthlessness.

You might use the positive form to describe an artist's deep feelings. However, in everyday conversation, you're more likely to hear the negative form to describe a business person who makes tough decisions without letting sentiment get in the way.

While you can use un état d'âme to describe a complex mood, remember its most common usage is in the negative. To say someone acts sans états d'âme is to say they are unsentimental, decisive, and don't get bogged down by their feelings.

💡 * Il a renvoyé l'employé sans états d'âme. (He fired the employee without any second thoughts.)

• Ce poème explore les états d'âme de l'auteur. (This poem explores the author's inner feelings/moods.)
• Ce n'est pas le moment d'avoir des états d'âme, il faut agir ! (This is not the time for hesitation, we must act!)
• La PDG est connue pour prendre des décisions difficiles sans états d'âme. (The CEO is known for making tough decisions without moral qualms.)

The 'sensation' – une sensation

The French word une sensation is a direct cognate of the English 'a sensation,' and it shares many of the same meanings. However, understanding the nuances in context is key to using it correctly.

Primarily, une sensation refers to a physical feeling or a perception from one of the five senses. This is its most literal meaning. You can talk about a sensation de froid (a sensation of cold) or a sensation étrange (a strange sensation) in your body.

Just like in English, une sensation can also describe a general impression, a gut feeling, or a hunch. The common phrase for this is avoir la sensation que..., which translates to 'to have the feeling that...'. It's used to express an intuition or a subjective perception about a situation.

Another important meaning is when something or someone causes great public excitement or interest. In this case, the verb phrase faire sensation is used, meaning 'to cause a sensation' or 'to make a splash.' This refers to a person, an event, or a work of art that becomes wildly popular or talked about.

💡 * J'ai une sensation de brûlure dans la gorge.

• J'ai la nette sensation que nous sommes observés.
• Sa nouvelle robe a fait sensation à la soirée.
• C'est une sensation agréable de marcher pieds nus dans l'herbe.

The 'impression' – une impression

The French word une impression is a close cousin to the English 'impression.' It refers to a feeling, a vague idea, or the effect that someone or something has on you. Critically, it is a feminine noun, so you always use it with feminine articles like une or la.

A very common and useful way to use this word is in the phrase avoir l'impression que..., which means 'to have the feeling/impression that...'. This is perfect for expressing a gut feeling or an intuition about a situation.

Just like in English, you can 'make an impression' in French. The phrases are faire bonne impression (to make a good impression) and faire mauvaise impression (to make a bad impression). This is frequently used in professional or social contexts.

💡 * J'ai l'impression qu'il va pleuvoir. (I have the feeling that it's going to rain.)

• Sa présentation a fait une forte impression sur le public. (His presentation made a strong impression on the audience.)
• Quelle est votre première impression sur ce candidat ? (What is your first impression of this candidate?)
• Ne vous fiez pas aux premières impressions. (Don't trust first impressions.)

The 'stir' or 'agitation' – un émoi

The 'stir' or 'agitation' – un émoi

Un émoi refers to a sudden, often collective, emotional disturbance, agitation, or flutter. It’s a feeling of being moved or stirred up, whether by excitement, worry, or another strong emotion.

This term is more literary or formal than words used in everyday conversation. You'll often encounter it in news headlines or literature to describe public reaction or a deeply felt personal emotion.

The word comes from the verb émouvoir, which means 'to move' or 'to touch' emotionally. Remembering this connection can help you recall its meaning.

💡 * L'annonce du président a provoqué un vif émoi dans le pays. (The president's announcement caused a great stir in the country.)

• La nouvelle de sa disparition a semé l'émoi parmi ses proches. (The news of his disappearance spread agitation among his loved ones.)
• Elle a ressenti un certain émoi en le revoyant après tant d'années. (She felt a certain emotional stir upon seeing him again after so many years.)

The 'deeply felt emotion' – un ressenti

Un ressenti is a French noun that translates to a "feeling," "impression," or "perception," but it carries a deeper, more personal weight. Derived from the verb ressentir (to feel deeply), un ressenti refers to a subjective, often complex emotion or impression that stems from a personal experience. It's not just a fleeting emotion but a more profound, internalized feeling.

This term is frequently used when discussing personal experiences, feedback, or artistic interpretations. For example, you might share your ressenti after watching a film, reading a book, or participating in a workshop. It emphasizes that the opinion is based on your personal, subjective emotional response rather than objective facts.

It's important to note that un ressenti is a masculine noun. It is often used with possessive adjectives like mon ressenti (my feeling/impression) or son ressenti (his/her feeling/impression) to highlight the personal nature of the experience. It functions as the subject or object in a sentence, distinct from the verb ressentir.

While un sentiment refers to a general feeling (like love or sadness) and une impression is a more immediate perception, un ressenti suggests a more processed and deeply-seated personal take on an event or situation. It's the emotional residue left by an experience.

💡 * Quel est votre ressenti général sur ce projet ? (What is your overall feeling/impression about this project?)

• C'est juste mon ressenti, mais je pense qu'il n'était pas sincère. (It's just my personal feeling, but I think he wasn't sincere.)
• Son discours a provoqué un ressenti de malaise dans l'audience. (His speech caused a feeling of unease in the audience.)
• L'artiste a voulu partager son ressenti de la solitude à travers cette œuvre. (The artist wanted to share his deeply felt experience of loneliness through this work.)

Are there other ways to say 'emotion' in French?

Are there other ways to say “emotion” in French?

This article covers the most essential French words for “emotion.” However, the French language, with its rich literary and philosophical history, offers a vast and nuanced vocabulary for feelings. You'll find many other terms, from poetic expressions to modern slang.

For more specific feelings, you can search online for “comment dire [specific feeling] en français”. For example, searching “comment dire longing en français” will yield specific and useful vocabulary.

When you discover a new word for an emotion, pay close attention to its connotation. Is it positive, negative, or neutral? Is it formal or informal? Checking examples in context is key to using it accurately and naturally.

Immerse yourself in French culture by watching French films, reading books, and listening to music. This will help you understand not just the words for emotions, but how and when they are expressed in a French cultural context.

To dive deeper into the nuances of feelings and emotions in French, exploring a thesaurus like Le Dictionnaire des synonymes or the WordReference page for émotion can reveal a fascinating web of related words.

I hope this guide has helped you better express your inner world in French. We'll leave you with this profound thought from the philosopher Blaise Pascal, which perfectly captures the essence of emotion: Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. (The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.)