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Getting emotional with pronominal verbs

In English, when your mood changes, you usually use the word "get" followed by an adjective. You get bored, you get angry, or you get excited. French takes a different approach. Instead of using a literal translation of "get", French frequently uses pronominal verbs to express changes in your emotional state.

These are verbs paired with reflexive pronouns like me, te, or se. By using these pronouns, the speaker shows that the emotional change is happening to themselves. Some common examples include s'ennuyer (to get bored) and s'énerver (to get angry).

Word list
s'amuserA2 to enjoy oneself nous nous amusons = we're having fun s'inquiéterA2 to worry ne t'inquiète pas = don't worry se sentirA2 to feel je me sens bien = I feel good s'énerverB1 to get angry il s'énerve = he gets annoyed s'ennuyerB1 to get bored je m'ennuie = I'm bored se fâcherB1 to get angry se fâcher = to get angry se faire du souciB1 to worry ne te fais pas de souci = don't worry se mettre en colèreB1 to get angry elle se met en colère = she gets angry s'enthousiasmerB2 to get excited s'enthousiasmer = to get excited se calmerB2 to calm down calme-toi = calm down se frustrerB2 to get frustrated se frustrer = to get frustrated s'apaiserC1 to calm down la colère s'apaise = the anger subsides
Feeling and experiencing

The most basic verb in this category is se sentir (to feel). You use it when describing your general physical or mental state, usually followed by an adjective or an adverb.

Aujourd'hui, je me sens très bien.
(Today, I feel very good.)

When dealing with specific emotional changes, French builds the feeling directly into the action. While English says "I am getting bored" or "I am bored", French essentially says "I bore myself" using the verb s'ennuyer.

Elle s'ennuie pendant la réunion.
(She gets bored during the meeting.)
Frustration and anger

There are several common verbs for getting upset. The verbs s'énerver and se fâcher both mean to get angry or upset, and they are often used interchangeably in everyday French.

Mon père s'énerve vite quand il conduit.
(My dad gets angry quickly when he drives.)
Ne te fâche pas pour une petite erreur.
(Don't get upset over a small mistake.)

If a situation is blocking you from achieving what you want, you might instead use se frustrer (to get frustrated).

Il se frustre quand l'ordinateur ne marche pas.
(He gets frustrated when the computer doesn't work.)

Once the storm has passed, you will need the verb se calmer (to calm down). This verb is frequently used as a command to tell someone to relax.

S'il te plaît, calme-toi.
(Please, calm down.)
Worry, fun, and excitement

When things are going well, you can use s'amuser (to enjoy oneself or to have fun). If you are actively looking forward to something with passion, you might use s'enthousiasmer (to get excited).

Nous nous amusons beaucoup à la fête.
(We are having a lot of fun at the party.)
Elle s'enthousiasme pour ce nouveau projet.
(She is getting excited about this new project.)

On the other hand, if you are concerned about a problem, you use s'inquiéter (to worry). Just like se calmer, this verb is extremely common in the imperative form when telling someone not to worry about a situation.

Ne vous inquiétez pas, tout va bien se passer.
(Don't worry, everything is going to be fine.)
Summary

When you want to talk about a change in your mood or emotional state, look for a pronominal verb. Where English uses "get" or "feel" plus an adjective, French pairs a reflexive pronoun with an emotion verb to show how you are feeling.