This month’s Spanish tip is about Los Sentimientos or Feelings. The biggest difference in feelings in Spanish versus English is that in English a person is  his or her eeling, whereas in Spanish many times a person has his or her feeling or state of being. For instance:

Tengo sed =I am thirsty (literally translated it means, I have thirst)
Tengo hambre =I am hungry
Tengo sueño =I am sleepy
Tengo ganas de…=I have an urge to/want to…
Tengo anxiedad =I am anxious/have anxiety
Tengo miedo =I’m afraid/fearful

On the other hand, there are quite a few feelings that follow the same English pattern of “I am“:

Estoy contento/a =I’m content
Estoy triste =I’m sad
Estoy enojado/a =I’m angry
Estoy frustrado =I’m frustrated
Estoy asustado =I’m scared/frightened/startled
Estoy entusiasmado/animado =I’m excited

Other feelings are verbs unto themselves:

Querer =To want
Desear =To desire
Esperar =To wait AND to hope for
Preocuparse =Worry (oneself)

And of course the most important verb for feelings is:

Sentirse =To feel

For example:
Me siento mal =I feel bad
Me siento tranquilo =I feel fine/relaxed
Me siento deprimido =I feel depressed