In Spanish, **emotions and feelings** are typically expressed using the verb
**”estar”**. This is because “estar” is used to describe temporary states or conditions,
including how someone feels at a specific moment. Here are some examples of
emotions and feelings with “estar”:
1. **Emociones (Emotions)**
- **Estar feliz** (to be happy)
- **Estar triste** (to be sad)
- **Estar enojado/a** (to be angry)
- **Estar preocupado/a** (to be worried)
- **Estar emocionado/a** (to be excited)
2. **Sentimientos (Feelings)**
- **Estar cansado/a** (to be tired)
- **Estar nervioso/a** (to be nervous)
- **Estar aburrido/a** (to be bored)
- **Estar confundido/a** (to be confused)
- **Estar relajado/a** (to be relaxed)
### Difference between Emotions and Feelings
- **Emotions (emociones)** are usually intense and short-lived. They are
reactions to specific situations or events. For example, you might be
**”enojado/a”** (angry) if someone is rude to you, or **”feliz”** (happy) if you
receive good news.
- **Feelings (sentimientos)** tend to be less intense but last longer. They are more
about an internal state that might not be linked to a specific event. For example,
you might feel **”cansado/a”** (tired) throughout the day or **”nervioso/a”**
(nervous) before a presentation.
Using **”estar”** with these expressions emphasizes that the state or condition is
temporary and can change. In contrast, if you used the verb **”ser”**, it would imply a
more permanent or inherent characteristic, which is not appropriate for emotions and
feelings that are likely to change.
Examples Using “Estar”
Emotions
Estar feliz (To be happy)
Estoy feliz porque aprobé mi examen. (I am happy because I passed my exam.)
Estar enojado/a (To be angry)
Ella está enojada con su amigo por llegar tarde. (She is angry with her friend for being
late.)
Estar triste (To be sad)
Estamos tristes por la noticia de su partida. (We are sad about the news of his
departure.)
Estar sorprendido/a (To be surprised)
Estoy sorprendido con el regalo que me diste. (I am surprised by the gift you gave me.)
Estar nervioso/a (To be nervous)
Él está nervioso por la entrevista de trabajo. (He is nervous about the job interview.)
Feelings
Estar cansado/a (To be tired)
Estoy cansado después de trabajar todo el día. (I am tired after working all day.)
Estar aburrido/a (To be bored)
Estamos aburridos porque no hay nada que hacer. (We are bored because there’s
nothing to do.)
Estar relajado/a (To be relaxed)
Después del yoga, me siento muy relajado. (After yoga, I feel very relaxed.)
Estar satisfecho/a (To be satisfied)
Ella está satisfecha con el resultado de su proyecto. (She is satisfied with the outcome
of her project.)
Estar confundido/a (To be confused)
Estoy confundido con las instrucciones que nos dieron. (I am confused with the
instructions they gave us.)
