German Conversation · Level 96
60 words
German word
erstaunen
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈʃtaʊ̯nən/
Meaning
- verbamaze
Example
Das Ergebnis erstaunte alle.
The result amazed everyone.
More examples
Die überraschende Statistik erstaunte das Publikum.
The surprising statistic amazed the audience.
Core concept
A striking result leaves a whole group wide-eyed with sudden wonder.
Common phrases
den Gesprächspartner erstaunen
amaze the conversation partner
das Publikum erstaunen
amaze the audience
Similar words
überraschen: To catch someone off guard with an unexpected event or message.
verblüffen: To amaze someone to the point of speechlessness.
erschrecken: To shock someone suddenly and cause fear.
staunen: To feel deep amazement and express admiration.
Definition in German
etwas tun, das bei jemandem überraschtes Staunen oder Bewunderung erzeugt.
Word origin
The verb combines the inseparable prefix er- with staunen and developed the causative sense of making someone marvel.
Usage tips
- Erstaunen takes an accusative object, so the person experiencing the reaction appears without a preposition, as in jemanden erstaunen.
Other meanings
- be surprisedverb
Opposites
- langweilenboreverb
Related words
- Erstaunenamazementnoun
- erstauntamazedadjective