Spanish Feelings and Emotions: DELE A1 Complete Guide
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Want to practice first? Try a General Feelings and Emotions Quiz!
Key Takeaways
- Learn common feeling and emotion expressions in Spanish
- Master “estar” for emotions and temporary states
- Understand emotion adjective agreement
- Learn mood and personality descriptions
- Essential for DELE A1 personal conversations
Welcome to your complete guide to Spanish feelings and emotions, essential for expressing yourself, understanding others, and having meaningful conversations on the DELE A1 exam. This vocabulary is crucial for personal interactions and descriptive tasks.
Basic Feelings and Emotions
Common Emotion Vocabulary
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| feliz | happy | Estoy feliz hoy | I am happy today |
| triste | sad | Mi amigo está triste | My friend is sad |
| enojado/enfadado | angry | El niño está enojado | The boy is angry |
| contento | content/pleased | Estoy contento con mi trabajo | I am pleased with my work |
| emocionado | excited | Estoy emocionado por el viaje | I am excited about the trip |
DELE A1 Tip: Use estar with emotions because they are temporary states. Use ser for personality traits which are more permanent characteristics.
Physical States and Feelings
Bodily Sensations and Emotions
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| cansado | tired | Estoy cansado después del trabajo | I am tired after work |
| enfermo | sick | No voy a la escuela porque estoy enfermo | I’m not going to school because I’m sick |
| hambriento | hungry | Los niños están hambrientos | The children are hungry |
| sediento | thirsty | Después de correr estoy sediento | After running I am thirsty |
| sorprendido | surprised | Estoy sorprendido por la noticia | I am surprised by the news |
Using Estar with Emotions
Emotion Conjugation Patterns
| Subject | Estar + Emotion | Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | estoy feliz | Estoy feliz hoy | I am happy today |
| Tú | estás contento | Estás contento con tu regalo | You are happy with your gift |
| Él/Ella | está enojado/a | Ella está enojada | She is angry |
| Nosotros | estamos emocionados | Estamos emocionados por la fiesta | We are excited about the party |
| Ellos | están tristes | Están tristes por la noticia | They are sad about the news |
Positive Emotions
Happy and Positive Feelings
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| alegre | cheerful | Mi abuela siempre está alegre | My grandmother is always cheerful |
| orgulloso | proud | Estoy orgulloso de mi hijo | I am proud of my son |
| agradecido | grateful | Estoy agradecido por tu ayuda | I am grateful for your help |
| optimista | optimistic | Soy optimista sobre el futuro | I am optimistic about the future |
| relajado | relaxed | Estoy relajado en las vacaciones | I am relaxed on vacation |
Negative Emotions
Difficult and Negative Feelings
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| preocupado | worried | Estoy preocupado por el examen | I am worried about the exam |
| nervioso | nervous | Los estudiantes están nerviosos | The students are nervous |
| confundido | confused | Estoy confundido con las instrucciones | I am confused with the instructions |
| asustado | scared | El niño está asustado de la oscuridad | The boy is scared of the dark |
| frustrado | frustrated | Estoy frustrado con mi progreso | I am frustrated with my progress |
Asking About Feelings
Common Emotion Questions
| Spanish Question | English Translation | Example Response |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Cómo estás? | How are you? | Estoy bien, gracias |
| ¿Qué te pasa? | What’s wrong? | Estoy un poco triste |
| ¿Cómo te sientes? | How do you feel? | Me siento feliz |
| ¿Estás bien? | Are you okay? | Sí, estoy bien |
| ¿Por qué estás triste? | Why are you sad? | Porque mañana es lunes |
Emotion Adjectives Agreement
Gender and Number Agreement
| Masculine | Feminine | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| contento | contenta | happy | Él está contento / Ella está contenta |
| enojado | enojada | angry | El hombre está enojado / La mujer está enojada |
| emocionado | emocionada | excited | Estamos emocionados / Están emocionadas |
| preocupado | preocupada | worried | Los niños están preocupados / Las niñas están preocupadas |
DELE A1 Exam Practice
Speaking Section Examples
- Express feelings: “Estoy muy feliz porque es viernes” – “I am very happy because it’s Friday”
- Describe others: “Mi hermana está nerviosa por el examen” – “My sister is nervous about the exam”
- Ask about feelings: “¿Cómo te sientes hoy?” – “How do you feel today?”
- Explain emotions: “Estoy cansado porque trabajé mucho” – “I am tired because I worked a lot”
Writing Section Examples
- Write about how you feel today and why
- Describe a time you felt very happy
- Write about what makes you feel different emotions
- Create a dialogue where people discuss their feelings
Common Emotion Expressions
Useful Feeling Phrases
- ¡Qué alegría! – How joyful!
- ¡Estoy tan emocionado! – I’m so excited!
- Me siento mal – I feel bad
- No me siento bien – I don’t feel well
- ¡Qué miedo! – How scary!
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Wrong verb: ❌ “soy feliz ahora” ✅ “estoy feliz ahora”
- Missing gender agreement: ❌ “ella está enojado” ✅ “ella está enojada“
- Confusing ser/estar: ❌ “soy enfermo” ✅ “estoy enfermo”
Next Step: Test Your Knowledge!
Ready to check your understanding of Spanish feelings and emotions?
Take our DELE A1 Spanish Feelings and Emotions Quiz here to confirm you’re ready for this part of the exam.
What’s Next in Your DELE A1 Journey?
- Ready for personality traits? Study Spanish Adjectives for Descriptions
- Need conversation practice? Review Spanish Greetings and Conversations
- Practice all A1 vocabulary? Take a Full A1 Vocabulary Test
Good luck with your DELE A1 preparation!
