French - Feelings

Lesson 159 of 159

Learner practicing French feelings phrases on a phone; lesson about saying 'I'm cold', 'I'm hungry', etc.

Goal: Simple French phrases to say how you feel

Free French lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Bonjour! Ready for a quick feelings check? This short lesson helps you say five common physical feelings in French. Have fun — listen, repeat, and try them out aloud.

Level A1: In this lesson you'll learn five everyday French phrases for basic feelings (cold, hot, tired, hungry, thirsty). We'll listen to each phrase, hear them in a short conversation, and practice with quizzes and speaking prompts. This CEFR-aligned snack of lesson 159 is perfect for saying how you feel in simple, natural French.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and say five common French phrases about physical feelings.
  • Use avoir vs. être correctly for these expressions.
  • Practice hearing the phrases in a short dialogue (Level A1).
Two friends in France talking about being hot, cold, tired, hungry and thirsty; French learning for A1 students.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

J'ai froid.

I'm cold.

Meaning: I'm cold.

When to use: Use this when you feel cold. In French you use the verb avoir: J'ai froid.

Tip: Don't say "Je suis froid." Use "J'ai froid." instead.

Il neige et j'ai froid.
It's snowing and I'm cold.
Anna dit: "J'ai froid."
Anna says, "I'm cold."

J'ai chaud.

I'm hot.

Meaning: I'm hot.

When to use: Use this when you feel hot (warm). French uses avoir: J'ai chaud.

En été, j'ai chaud dans le métro.
In summer, I'm hot on the subway.
Après le jogging, David dit: "J'ai chaud."
After jogging, David says, "I'm hot."

Je suis fatigué(e).

I'm tired.

Meaning: I'm tired.

When to use: Use this to say you are tired. Watch gender: fatigué (m) / fatiguée (f).

Tip: Remember the -e for feminine: fatiguée for a woman.

Après le travail, je suis fatigué(e).
After work, I'm tired.
Elle répond: "Je suis fatiguée."
She replies, "I'm tired."

J'ai faim.

I'm hungry.

Meaning: I'm hungry.

When to use: Say this when you want to eat. In French use avoir: J'ai faim.

Tip: Don't say "Je suis faim." Use "J'ai faim."

Il est midi et j'ai faim.
It's noon and I'm hungry.
Anna mange parce qu'elle a faim.
Anna eats because she's hungry.

J'ai soif.

I'm thirsty.

Meaning: I'm thirsty.

When to use: Use this when you need a drink. French uses avoir: J'ai soif.

Après le match, j'ai soif.
After the match, I'm thirsty.
David boit de l'eau car il a soif.
David drinks water because he's thirsty.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

At a park bench in France

Anna and David use short French phrases to describe how they feel; good example for beginners.

Who says they are hot?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

J'ai froid.

I'm cold.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

J'ai chaud.

I'm hot.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Je suis fatiguée.

I'm tired.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Tu veux manger ?

Do you want to eat?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Oui, j'ai faim.

Yes, I'm hungry.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Et moi, j'ai soif.

And I'm thirsty.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

How do you say "I'm thirsty" in French?

Which phrase means "I'm cold"?

Choose the correct French for "I'm tired."

How do you say "I'm hungry"?

It's a very hot day and I'm sweating — I say "J'ai chaud."

It's a very hot day and I'm sweating — I say ___.

I didn't sleep well last night; I answer "Je suis fatigué(e)."

I didn't sleep well last night; when someone asks how I am, I answer ___.

At a café after walking all morning, you say "J'ai soif."

At a café after walking all morning, you want a drink, so you tell the waiter ___.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

J'ai froid.

I'm cold.

Say this phrase out loud:

J'ai chaud.

I'm hot.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je suis fatigué(e).

I'm tired.

Say this phrase out loud:

J'ai faim.

I'm hungry.

Say this phrase out loud:

J'ai soif.

I'm thirsty.