German word

Überraschung

Pronunciation

IPA/ˌyːbɐˈʁaʃʊŋ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsurprise

Example

Zu Weihnachten gab es viele Überraschungen.

At Christmas, there were many surprises.

Illustration for Überraschung (surprise)

More examples

Zu meiner Überraschung war er pünktlich.

To my surprise, he was punctual.

Core concept

A settled expectation is overturned in an instant, and the sudden change registers as astonishment.

Common phrases

  • zu meiner Überraschung

    to my surprise

  • eine Überraschung bereiten

    prepare a surprise

  • zur Überraschung aller

    to everyone's surprise

Similar words

Erstaunen: Strong astonishment at an unexpected event.
Staunen: Amazed wonder at something strange or impressive.
Verblüffung: Speechless astonishment caused by something entirely unexpected.
Schock: Severe emotional distress caused by a sudden event.

Definition in German

Überraschung ist ein plötzliches, unerwartetes Ereignis oder Gefühl, das Erstaunen hervorruft.

Word origin

Überraschung developed from the verb überraschen, whose noun form uses -ung to name the resulting experience or occurrence.

Usage tips

  • The phrase zu meiner Überraschung introduces an unexpected fact from the speaker's viewpoint and takes the dative form meiner.

Opposites

  • Erwartungexpectationnoun
  • Vorhersehbarkeitpredictabilitynoun

Related words

Word lists with this word