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Feelings & how you’re doing
Past small talk, friendship happens in the honest answers: I’m shattered, I’m thrilled, I’ve had it with this week. This lesson is the vocabulary of actually saying how you are — and comforting someone who isn’t doing great.
The one idea
French splits feelings between two verbs. States use être — je suis crevée, contente, stressée. But a whole family of feelings are things you have: j’ai faim, j’ai hâte, j’ai la flemme, j’en ai marre. Learn which verb owns which feeling and you’re most of the way there.
Listen first: one of those weeks
You’re running on empty and Max calls. Shadow your lines — being tired in French is a skill you will definitely need.
States: je suis…
All of these agree with you — as a woman you add the -e (you’ll mostly only see it in writing).
| French | Means | |
|---|---|---|
| Je suis crevée. | I’m knackered (THE everyday word) | |
| Je suis trop contente ! | I’m so happy! | |
| Je suis un peu stressée. | I’m a bit stressed | |
| Je suis énervée. | I’m wound up / annoyed | |
| Je suis déçue. | I’m disappointed | |
| Je suis en pleine forme. | I’m on great form |
Feelings you have: j’ai…
| French | Means | |
|---|---|---|
| J’ai faim. / J’ai soif. | I’m hungry / thirsty | |
| J’ai sommeil. | I’m sleepy | |
| J’ai trop hâte ! | I can’t wait! | |
| J’ai la flemme. | I can’t be bothered | |
| J’en ai marre. | I’m fed up (with it) | |
| J’ai peur de l’avion. | I’m scared of flying |
Don’t translate “I am hungry”
English is the odd one out here — French (like German: ich habe Hunger) has hunger, thirst, fear and sleepiness. « Je suis faim » doesn’t exist. If the feeling is on this list, it takes avoir.
Bad days — saying it, and hearing it
When someone asks « ça va ? » and it isn’t, here’s the honest register:
“Not great today, honestly.” The standard way to admit it without drama.
“I’m done in this week.” For overload of any kind.
“I’m feeling a bit low.” Le moral = your spirits.
And when it’s the other person having the rough week, this is your comfort kit:
| Say | When | |
|---|---|---|
| Ah mince… | “oh no…” — first response | |
| Qu’est-ce qui se passe ? | “what’s going on?” | |
| Je comprends. | “I get it” | |
| Ça va aller. | “it’ll be OK” | |
| Courage ! | “hang in there!” | |
| Repose-toi bien. | “rest up properly” |
What people actually say
The casual intensifier is trop, not très: je suis trop contente, j’ai trop hâte, c’est trop bon. Très is perfectly correct — trop is what friends sound like. And good things “do you good”: « ça fait du bien » works after a nap, a swim, a rant or a holiday.
Your turn
Tell a friend you’re shattered because you slept terribly.
A friend answers « ça va pas fort ». Respond so they feel heard.
Your best friend is visiting next weekend. Say you can’t wait and you’re so happy.
Honestly, you can’t be bothered to go out — suggest a quiet one instead.
Quick check
Pain also uses avoir: j’ai mal à la tête (headache), j’ai mal au dos (back), j’ai mal partout (everything hurts — post-hike essential). Pattern: avoir mal à + the body part.
Crever literally means to burst or puncture — a tyre is crevé, and so are you after a long week. Same image as English “deflated”, but stronger and more common. (You may also hear « je suis morte » — “I’m dead” — which works exactly like in English.)
Râler = to grumble, and it’s a national sport, done with love. « Il râle tout le temps, mais il est adorable » — he grumbles constantly, but he’s lovely. Knowing this verb explains roughly 30% of French café conversation.