I Feel Pretty – English Lyrics

• By: Natalie Wood
• Album: West Side Story

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of "I Feel Pretty" from *West Side Story*! This iconic song is a fantastic way to experience English as it expresses overwhelming joy and self-discovery. You'll learn idiomatic expressions of happiness and infatuation, and appreciate the song's clever rhymes and upbeat rhythm, making language learning feel as delightful as Maria's newfound love.

[English]

I feel pretty,

Oh, so pretty,

I feel pretty and witty and gay

And I pity

Any girl who isn't me tonight.

I feel charming, Oh, so charming

It's alarming how charming I feel

And so pretty That I hardly can believe I'm real.

See the pretty girl in that mirror there:

Who can that attractive girl be?

Such a pretty face, such a pretty dress, such a pretty smile, such a pretty me!

I feel stunning And entrancing,

Feel like running and dancing for joy,

For I'm loved By a pretty, wonderful boy!

Have you met my good friend Maria, The craziest girl on the block?

You'll know her the minute you see her

She's the one who is in an advanced state of shock.

She thinks she's in love. She thinks she's in Spain.

She isn't in love, She's merely insane.

It must be the heat or some rare disease

Or too much to eat or maybe it's fleas.

Keep away from her, send for Chino

This is not the Maria we know

Modest and pure, polite and refined

Well-bred and mature and out of her mind!

I feel pretty. Oh, so pretty

That the city should give me its key.

A committee Should be organized to honor me.

I feel dizzy, I feel sunny, I feel fizzy and funny and fine,

And so pretty, Miss America can just resign!

See the pretty girl in that mirror there

What mirror where?

Who can that attractive girl be?

Which? What? Where? Whom?

Such a pretty face, Such a pretty dress, Such a pretty smile, Such a pretty me

I feel stunning and entrancing,

Feel like running and dancing for joy

For I'm loved By a pretty wonderful boy!

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
pretty /ˈprɪti/ A2	adjective - attractive in a delicate way
feel /fiːl/ A2	verb - to experience an emotion or sensation
pretty girl /ˈprɪti ɡɜːrl/ A2	noun phrase - an attractive female
happy /ˈhæpi/ A2	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
happy /ˈhæpi/ A2	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
pity /ˈpɪti/ B1	noun - sympathetic sorrow for another's misfortune
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection verb - to feel deep affection for someone or something
charming /ˈtʃɑːrmɪŋ/ B2	adjective - pleasant or attractive in a way that inspires admiration
mirror /ˈmɪrər/ A2	noun - a reflective surface for seeing oneself
boy /bɔɪ/ A1	noun - a male child or young man
dance /dæns/ A2	verb - to move rhythmically to music
joy /dʒɔɪ/ B1	noun - a feeling of great happiness and pleasure

Key Grammar Structures

• I feel pretty and witty and gay

  ➔ Coordinate adjectives

  ➔ Multiple adjectives are connected with 'and' to describe a noun equally.

• And I pity any girl who isn't me tonight

  ➔ Relative clause with 'who'

  ➔ 'who isn't me' is a relative clause describing 'girl'.

• It's alarming how charming I feel

  ➔ Adverbial clause of manner ('how charming I feel')

  ➔ This clause explains the manner or degree of feeling.

• Such a pretty face, such a pretty dress

  ➔ Emphasis with 'such'

  ➔ 'such' emphasizes the degree or extent of the noun's quality.

• Feel like running and dancing for joy

  ➔ Verb phrase 'feel like' + gerund

  ➔ 'feel like' is used to express the desire or inclination to do something.

• Miss America can just resign

  ➔ Modal verb 'can' indicating ability or possibility

  ➔ 'can' expresses ability or the possibility that Miss America might resign.

• See the pretty girl in that mirror there

  ➔ Imperative verb 'See' followed by the noun phrase

  ➔ 'See' is used as an imperative to instruct or draw attention to the noun phrase.