German word

wundern

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈvʊndɐn/

Meaning

  • verbbe surprised

Example

Es wundert mich, dass er nicht kommt.

I'm surprised that he isn't coming.

Illustration for wundern (be surprised)

More examples

Viele Menschen wundern sich über die schnellen Veränderungen in der Technologie.

Many people are surprised by the rapid changes in technology.

Core concept

A strange event makes the mind pause and ask how it can be so.

Common phrases

  • etwas wundert jemanden

    Something surprises someone

  • sich wundern über etwas

    be surprised by something

  • Mich wundert, dass ...

    I am surprised that ___

Similar words

überraschen: To make someone feel surprised by an unexpected event.
sich fragen: To think about a question while seeking an explanation or answer.
staunen: To show spontaneous amazement at something remarkable or unexpected.
verblüffen: To overwhelm someone with surprise and leave them momentarily unable to respond.

Definition in German

Etwas merkwürdig oder unerwartet finden; auch transitive Verwendung möglich: jemanden/etwas wundern

Word origin

Wundern is a verb formed from the German noun Wunder, which developed from an old Germanic word for something extraordinary or marvelous.

Usage tips

  • The reflexive form sich wundern commonly takes über plus the accusative, as in sich über etwas wundern, while es wundert mich often introduces a clause.

Other meanings

  • wonderverb
  • surpriseverb

Opposites

  • erwartenexpectverb
  • voraussehenforeseeverb

Related words

Word lists with this word