Spanish Conversation · Level 43
73 words
Spanish word
sorpresa
Pronunciation
IPA/soɾˈpɾesa/
Meaning
- feminine nounsurprise
Example
¡Qué sorpresa verte aquí!
What a surprise to see you here!
More examples
Nos dieron una sorpresa en la fiesta.
They gave us a surprise at the party.
Core concept
Sudden startled reaction to an unexpected event.
Common phrases
dar una sorpresa
give a surprise
llevarse una sorpresa
get a surprise
una sorpresa agradable
a pleasant surprise
Similar words
asombro: Intense sense of amazement or wonder that overwhelms attention.
sobresalto: Sharp, brief startle that triggers an immediate physical reaction like a jump.
susto: Sudden scare that produces fear or lingering anxiety.
Definition in Spanish
Expresa la impresión fuerte y repentina causada por algo imprevisto.
Word origin
From Spanish sorprender, ultimately from Latin super 'over' + prehendere 'to seize', originally conveying the idea of being seized suddenly.
Usage tips
- A common conversational phrase is '¡Qué sorpresa!', and a typical follow-up is a question such as '¿Qué haces aquí?' to find out why the event occurred.
Opposites
- rutinaroutinenoun
- normalidadnormalitynoun
Related words
- sorprendersurpriseverb
- sorprendidosurprisedadjective