# Feelings and emotions in Esperanto – happy, sad, tired

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/feelings/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-08

> Happy is feliĉa or ĝoja, sad is malĝoja, tired is laca. How to say Mi estas laca, Mi timas and Mi ĝojas, plus mal-, -iĝ-, -ig- and -em- for more feelings.

You say how you feel in Esperanto with *esti* "to be" plus an adjective – ***Mi estas feliĉa*** "I am happy", ***Mi estas laca*** "I am tired" – or with a feeling verb: ***Mi ĝojas*** "I am glad", ***Mi timas*** "I am afraid", ***Mi enuas*** "I am bored". A few word parts (*mal-, -iĝ-, -ig-, -em-*) then turn one root into a whole family of feelings. Pronunciation guides split words into syllables, with the stressed syllable in capitals; it is always the second-to-last.

## Feelings as adjectives

Adjectives end in *-a* and take *-j* for the plural: *Ni estas feliĉaj* "We are happy".

| English | Esperanto | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| happy | *feliĉa* | fe-LI-ĉa | also "lucky" |
| glad, joyful | *ĝoja* | ĜO-ja | deeper than *gaja* |
| cheerful | *gaja* | GA-ja | shows on the outside |
| content | *kontenta* | kon-TEN-ta | wants nothing more |
| sad | *malĝoja* | mal-ĜO-ja | deep sorrow, e.g. after a loss |
| down, gloomy | *malgaja* | mal-GA-ja | a lighter, passing mood |
| sad | *trista* | TRIS-ta | often used, short |
| unhappy | *malfeliĉa* | mal-fe-LI-ĉa | also "unlucky" |
| angry | *kolera* | ko-LE-ra | |
| timid, easily scared | *timema* | ti-ME-ma | |
| tired | *laca* | LA-ca | also "weary of" |
| sleepy | *dormema* | dor-ME-ma | |
| nervous | *nervoza* | ner-VO-za | |
| calm | *trankvila* | tran-KVI-la | |
| uneasy, worried | *maltrankvila* | mal-tran-KVI-la | |
| lonely | *soleca* | so-LE-ca | |
| proud | *fiera* | fi-E-ra | *fiera pri vi* "proud of you" |
| jealous | *ĵaluza* | ĵa-LU-za | fears losing what is yours |
| upset | *ĉagrenita* | ĉa-gre-NI-ta | |
| surprised | *surprizita* | sur-pri-ZI-ta | |

**Shades of meaning.** The dictionary ReVo says *gaja* is felt and shown outwardly, while *ĝoja* is a deeper, more inward feeling. In the same way *malgaja* is a lighter, more external mood and *malĝoja* a profound sorrow. *Trista* is also common: PMEG calls it an often used alternative to *malgaja* and *malĝoja*, though ReVo quotes a usage guide that prefers the *mal-* forms. *Feliĉa* means both "happy" and "fortunate"; for plain luck say *bonŝanca*. *Ĵaluza* is fear of losing something of yours; wanting what someone else has is *envii* "to envy".

**Feelings in -ita.** *Ĉagrenita, surprizita* and *ravita* "delighted" come from the verbs *ĉagreni* "to upset", *surprizi* "to surprise" and *ravi* "to delight". The ending *-ita* gives the state that results, so *Mi estas surprizita* is "I am surprised" (by something). See [participles](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/participles/).

## Feelings as verbs

| Verb | Pronunciation | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| *ami* | A-mi | *Mi amas mian familion.* | I love my family. |
| *ŝati* | ŜA-ti | *Mi ŝatas tiun kanton.* | I like that song. |
| *plaĉi* | PLA-ĉi | *Tiu kanto plaĉas al mi.* | I like that song (it pleases me). |
| *malami* | mal-A-mi | *Mi malamas atendi.* | I hate waiting. |
| *ĝoji* | ĜO-ji | *Mi ĝojas pri via sukceso.* | I am glad about your success. |
| *timi* | TI-mi | *Mi timas la hundon.* | I am afraid of the dog. |
| *koleri* | ko-LE-ri | *Li koleras pro la bruo.* | He is angry about the noise. |
| *enui* | e-NU-i | *Mi enuas.* | I am bored. |
| *honti* | HON-ti | *Mi hontas pri mia eraro.* | I am ashamed of my mistake. |
| *esperi* | es-PE-ri | *Mi esperas, ke vi venos.* | I hope you will come. |
| *bedaŭri* | be-DAŬ-ri | *Mi bedaŭras, ke mi malfruis.* | I am sorry I was late. |
| *sopiri* | so-PI-ri | *Mi sopiras al la maro.* | I long for the sea. |

**Like, love, hate.** In modern use *ŝati* is the milder word and *ami* the stronger one; ReVo notes that older usage was the reverse. PMEG explains that *ŝati* and *plaĉi* mean nearly the same but swap the roles: *Mi ŝatas la libron* equals *La libro plaĉas al mi*. To say "I don't like it" use *Mi ne ŝatas ĝin*, and keep *malami* for real hatred. *Malŝati* is glossed "dislike" in some dictionaries, but ReVo defines it as treating something as worthless or unimportant, so *Mi ne ŝatas* is the safer phrase. For love between people see [I love you](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/i-love-you/).

**What comes after the verb.** Give the cause with *pri* or *pro*: ReVo has both *ĝoji pri la bonaĵo* and *mi ĝojas pro via helpo*. A whole clause takes *ke*: *Mi ĝojas, ke vi venis*; *Mi timas, ke pluvos* "I am afraid it will rain". The same pieces follow *esti* plus an adjective: *Mi estas ĝoja, ke vi venis.* Hunger and thirst are in [food and drink](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/food-drink/), and cold and heat in [weather and seasons](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/weather-seasons/).

## Four ways to say how you feel

| Pattern | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| *esti* + adjective | *Mi estas laca.* | I am tired. |
| feeling verb | *Mi timas.* | I am afraid. |
| *senti sin* + adjective | *Mi sentas min sola.* | I feel lonely. |
| *Estas al mi* + adverb | *Estas al mi malvarme.* | I feel cold. |

In *senti sin* "to feel oneself" the word *min* is the object, and the adjective after it describes you, so it takes no *-n*: *Ni sentas nin solaj* "We feel lonely". PMEG calls this a description attached through the verb. Use an adverb for how well you feel: *Mi sentas min bone* "I feel fine". The last pattern comes from PMEG, which quotes *Estas al mi malvarme* from Zamenhof's translation of Andersen's tales; *al mi* names the person who feels it.

## Word parts that build feelings

| Part | Effect | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| *mal-* | the opposite | *feliĉa → malfeliĉa* "unhappy", *kontenta → malkontenta* "dissatisfied", *ĝoji → malĝoji* "to grieve", *espero → malespero* "despair", *ami → malami* "to hate" |
| *-iĝ-* | to become, to get | *kolera → koleriĝi* "to get angry", *laca → laciĝi* "to get tired", *trankvila → trankviliĝi* "to calm down", *enui → enuiĝi* "to get bored", *ĉagreni → ĉagreniĝi* "to become upset" |
| *-ig-* | to make someone feel | *ĝoji → ĝojigi* "to make glad", *timi → timigi* "to frighten", *koleri → kolerigi* "to make angry", *trankvila → trankviligi* "to calm someone", *enui → enuigi* "to bore" |
| *-ig-* + *-a* | causing a feeling | *enuiga* "boring", *laciga* "tiring", *timiga* "frightening", *ĝojiga* "delightful" |
| *-em-* | inclined to | *timema* "timid", *kolerema* "quick-tempered", *hontema* "shy", *plorema* "tearful", *enviema* "envious" |
| *-eg-* | very strong | *feliĉega* "overjoyed", *kolerega* "furious", *lacega* "exhausted" |
| *-et-* | weak | *kolereta* "slightly annoyed", *rideti* "to smile" (from *ridi* "to laugh") |
| *ek-* | suddenly | *ektimi* "to take fright", *ekridi* "to give a sudden laugh", *ekami* "to start to love" |

More on [prefixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/prefixes/) and [suffixes](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/suffixes/). Some points to watch:

- **Opposite or just "not".** *Mal-* is the opposite idea, while *ne* only denies it. PMEG's pair is *ami → malami*: *Mi ne amas lin* "I don't love him", but *Mi malamas lin* "I hate him".
- **No ĝojiĝi.** ReVo does not list *ĝojiĝi*, because *ĝoji* already means "to feel joy".
- **Fear.** *Timiĝi* exists, but PMEG recommends *ektimi* for "to take fright".
- **A passing state.** PMEG says *-em-* can name a momentary urge too: *dormema* is "feeling sleepy", not "sleeping a lot".

## Asking about feelings and answering

| Esperanto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| *Kiel vi fartas?* | KI-el vi FAR-tas | How are you? |
| *Kiel vi sentas vin?* | KI-el vi SEN-tas vin | How do you feel? |
| *Kio estas al vi?* | KI-o ES-tas al vi | What is the matter? |
| *Kio okazis?* | KI-o o-KA-zis | What happened? |
| *Kio ĝenas vin?* | KI-o ĜE-nas vin | What is bothering you? |
| *Kial vi estas malĝoja?* | KI-al vi ES-tas mal-ĜO-ja | Why are you sad? |
| *Nenio, mi nur estas laca.* | ne-NI-o, mi nur ES-tas LA-ca | Nothing, I am just tired. |

ReVo defines *farti* as being in a good or bad state with regard to the body's functions, and *Kiel vi fartas?* is still the standard "how are you?"; the replies are in [greetings](https://esperantopedia.org/phrases/greetings/). *Kiel vi sentas vin?* asks about your mood right now.

## Comforting and reacting

| Esperanto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| *Ne ploru.* | ne PLO-ru | Don't cry. |
| *Ne timu.* | ne TI-mu | Don't be afraid. |
| *Ne zorgu.* | ne ZOR-gu | Don't worry. |
| *Trankviliĝu.* | tran-kvi-LI-ĝu | Calm down. |
| *Ĉio estos en ordo.* | ĈI-o ES-tos en OR-do | Everything will be all right. |
| *Mi kunsentas kun vi.* | mi kun-SEN-tas kun vi | I feel for you. |
| *Mi kondolencas.* | mi kon-do-LEN-cas | My condolences. |
| *Kia domaĝo!* | KI-a do-MA-ĝo | What a pity! |
| *Mi ĝojas pri vi.* | mi ĜO-jas pri vi | I am happy for you. |
| *Mi fieras pri vi.* | mi fi-E-ras pri vi | I am proud of you. |

The commands end in *-u*, the imperative, and *ne* makes them negative. Short outbursts such as *Ve!* "alas" and *Hura!* "hooray" are [interjections](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/interjections/).

## Common questions

### How do you say "I am happy" in Esperanto?

*Mi estas feliĉa* or *Mi estas ĝoja*. *Mi ĝojas* alone means "I am glad", usually about something specific.

### How do you say "I am tired" in Esperanto?

*Mi estas laca*. "I am exhausted" is *Mi estas lacega*, and "I am getting tired" is *Mi laciĝas*.

### How do you say "I am sad" in Esperanto?

*Mi estas malĝoja*, *Mi estas malgaja* or *Mi estas trista*. All three are in use, and *malĝoja* is the deepest.

### How do you say "I am afraid" in Esperanto?

*Mi timas*, with an object (*Mi timas la hundon*) or a clause (*Mi timas, ke pluvos*). "Don't be afraid" is *Ne timu*.

### What is the difference between feliĉa and ĝoja?

*Feliĉa* is the usual "happy" and also means "fortunate". *Ĝoja* is "glad, joyful", and *ĝoji* is "to be glad" about something.

## Sources

- ReVo: [feliĉa](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/felicx.html), [ĝoji, ĝoja, malĝoja](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/gxoj.html), [gaja, malgaja](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/gaj.html), [kontenta](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/konten.html), [trista](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/trist.html), [kolera](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/koler.html), [timi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/tim.html), [laca](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/lac.html), [enui](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/enu.html)
- ReVo: [esperi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/esper.html), [bedaŭri](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/bedaux.html), [sopiri](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sopir.html), [honti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/hont.html), [envii](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/envi.html), [ŝati](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sxat.html), [ami, malami](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/am.html), [plaĉi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/placx.html), [ĉagreni](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/cxagre.html), [ravi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/rav.html)
- ReVo: [trankvila](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/trankv.html), [soleca](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sol.html), [fiera](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fier.html), [ĵaluza](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/jxaluz.html), [nervoza](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/nervoz.html), [kondolenci](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/kondol.html), [kunsenti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/sent.html), [farti](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/fart.html), [okazi](https://reta-vortaro.de/revo/art/okaz.html)
- [PMEG: EM](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/em.html), [IĜ](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/igh.html), [ET](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/sufiksoj/et.html), [MAL](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/prefiksoj/mal.html), [EK](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/vortfarado/afiksoj/prefiksoj/ek.html)
- [PMEG: IĜ-verboj (timiĝi, ektimi)](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj_frazroloj/igh.html), [priskribaj verboj (esti, fariĝi)](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj_frazroloj/priskribaj.html), [similsignifaj verboj (ŝati, plaĉi)](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj_frazroloj/similsignifaj.html)
- [Tatoeba](https://tatoeba.org/en/sentences/show/1150510) (CC BY 2.0 FR), phrases confirmed as attested: #1150510 *Kio estas al vi?*, #435657 *Kio okazis?*, #3952972 *Kio ĝenas vin?*, #656588 *Kiel vi sentas vin?*, #1840821 *Mi sentas min sola*, #12091947 *Kial vi estas malĝoja?*, #4810793 *Mi kondolencas*, #550822 *Kia domaĝo*, #1015630 *Ne ploru*, #429408 *Ne timu*, #466730 *Trankviliĝu*, #470078 *Mi enuas*