French word

étonnement

Pronunciation

IPA/etɔnəmɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsurprise

Example

Je n'ai pas caché mon étonnement.

I did not hide my surprise.

Illustration for étonnement (surprise)

More examples

Il a regardé la scène avec étonnement.

He looked at the scene with astonishment.

Core concept

A startled inner reaction that can range from mild surprise to disbelief.

Common phrases

  • avec étonnement

    with astonishment

  • son étonnement

    his astonishment

  • exprimer étonnement

    express astonishment

Similar words

surprise: A feeling of surprise caused by a sudden event.
émerveillement: Wonder and admiration inspired by something mysterious or beautiful.

Definition in French

Sentiment soudain de surprise ou d'incrédulité éprouvé face à quelque chose d'inattendu.

Word origin

Étonnement comes from étonner plus -ment; the verb traces back through Old French estoner to Latin extonare, a verb associated with being struck by thunder.

Usage tips

  • The related verb s'étonner commonly takes de before its cause, as in s'étonner de quelque chose.

Other meanings

  • astonishmentnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word