Everyone has experienced a frisson — you might have referred to it as “getting the chills” or “having goosebumps.” But there’s a single word for this tangible wave of excitement or fear, and that’s “frisson.” It’s a direct loanword from French, where the word means “a shiver or thrill.” The word is often associated with strong emotions, such as anxiety, fear, and romantic attraction, but a powerful piece of art or a sentimental song could elicit tears and a frisson as well.