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On this page, we will look at some of the important vocabulary for talking about happiness in English.
- pleased
- ecstatic (extremely happy)
- thrilled
- over the moon (an idiom with the same meaning as ecstatic)
- overjoyed
- overwhelmed (be careful with this word – it can also mean ‘too much of something – e.g. ‘overwhelmed with work’)
- wonderful
- delighted
- cheerful
- in high spirits (an idiom meaning to be in a good mood)
- on cloud nine (an idiom meaning extremely happy)
- elated
- euphoric (intense excitement / happiness, almost like a drug)
- exhilarated (something that causes someone to be very happy)
- exuberant (to be full of cheerfulness, excitement and energy)
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The main problem with a lot of English vocabulary is the meanings are often very similar, so here are some examples of when to use (and not use) some of the vocabulary above.
| Example | Explanation |
| John just found out that he’s won five million on the lottery! He’s very pleased. | Pleased is not the right word because it is not very strong. Finding out you’ve won the lottery would make you much happier than this! |
| John just found out that he’s won five million on the lottery! He’s ecstatic! | This is a good example |
| Dear Ms Johnson. We are on cloud nine about being able to offer you the position as Assistant Manager and look forward to welcoming you to the company next Monday. | On cloud nine is an idiom so it doesn’t suit a formal situation like this. |
| Dear Ms Johnson. We are delighted to offer you the position as Assistant Manager and look forward to welcoming you to the company next Monday. | This is a good example |
| He was wonderful when she told him she was pregnant! | The construction if this sentence is not correct. You cannot ‘be wonderful’ about something (you can feel wonderful) |
| He was overjoyed when she told him she was pregnant! | This is a good example |
| Jane exhilarated everyone at the party with her acrobatics – it looked so dangerous but was a lot of fun! |
You can be exhilarated by something, but not someone |
| Jane thrilled everyone at the party with her acrobatics – it looked so dangerous but was a lot of fun! | This is a good example |
| The boy was elated that he’d finished his homework. |
Although it is technically possible, being elated is a little too strong just because he’d finished his homework. |
| The boy was in high spirits because he’d finished his homework. | This is a good example |
We hope you found this vocabulary for talking about happiness in English useful! Now move on to the next page, where we look at vocabulary related to unhappiness.