While both "excited" and "thrilled" describe positive feelings of anticipation and happiness, there's a subtle difference in intensity and the type of event that causes them. "Excited" is a more general term, describing a feeling of eager happiness or anticipation for something good. It's used for a wider range of events, from a fun day out to a big exam. "Thrilled," on the other hand, implies a much stronger feeling of excitement, often caused by something truly amazing, unexpected, or special. It suggests a more intense and exhilarating feeling of joy.

Think of it this way: you might be excited about going to the cinema, but you would likely be thrilled to win a major competition or meet your favorite celebrity.

Here are some example sentences to illustrate the difference:

• Excited: "I'm so excited about my birthday party!" (Meaning: I'm happily anticipating my birthday party.) Translation: I feel happy and eager for my birthday party to begin.

• Thrilled: "I was thrilled to receive the scholarship!" (Meaning: I felt a strong sense of excitement and joy about winning the scholarship.) Translation: I experienced intense happiness and excitement upon winning the scholarship.

• Excited: "The children were excited to visit the zoo." (Meaning: The children happily anticipated their visit to the zoo.) Translation: The children felt happiness and eagerness to visit the zoo.

• Thrilled: "She was thrilled to hear the good news." (Meaning: She felt overwhelming joy at hearing the good news.) Translation: She felt an intense level of happiness and excitement upon receiving the good news.

The key difference is the intensity of the emotion. "Excited" is a common, everyday feeling, while "thrilled" is a more heightened, ecstatic feeling. Choosing the right word depends on the context and the strength of the emotion you want to express.

Happy learning!