The term you’re looking for for a sudden expression of emotion is “interjection.”

Sudden Expression of Emotion

Quick Scoop

What it means

When people talk about a “sudden expression of emotion” in language, they usually mean a short word or sound that bursts out to show how someone feels in the moment.

In grammar, that type of word is called an interjection.

Think of things like:

  • “Wow!”
  • “Oh!”
  • “Ouch!”
  • “Hey!”
  • “Hurray!”
  • “Alas!”

All of these are quick emotional reactions rather than full, logical sentences.

A bit of grammar context

In school-level English, an interjection is defined as:

A word which expresses some sudden feeling or emotion such as joy, sorrow, surprise, etc.

Key points about interjections:

  • They stand alone: Often separated by a comma or exclamation mark (“Wow, that’s amazing!”).
  • They show emotion more than meaning: Joy, pain, shock, annoyance, excitement, etc.
  • They can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence (“Well, I don’t know.”, “That hurt, ouch!”).

So if your puzzle, worksheet, or forum discussion clue is “sudden expression of emotion,” the clean textbook-style answer is: interjection.

Related idea: emotional outbursts

Outside of grammar, “sudden expression of emotion” can also mean an emotional outburst, like sudden crying, shouting, or laughing when feelings overflow.

Psychology articles describe these as intense reactions that feel hard to control and sometimes seem too strong for the situation.

Examples:

  • Snapping in anger over something small.
  • Bursting into tears unexpectedly.
  • Nervous laughter in a stressful moment.

These are different from interjections, but both involve something emotional that appears suddenly and briefly.

Mini FAQ

Q: Is “Wow!” an interjection?
Yes. It’s a classic interjection showing surprise or admiration.

Q: Are interjections always written with an exclamation mark?
No. They can use commas too, like “Well, I guess so.”

Q: In a word game or exam, what answer fits “a word expressing sudden feeling or emotion”?
The standard answer is interjection.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.