French word

surprenant

Pronunciation

IPA/syʁpʁənɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivesurprising

Example

C'est surprenant de le voir ici.

It's surprising to see him here.

Illustration for surprenant (surprising)

More examples

Je trouve cela surprenant.

I find that surprising.

Core concept

An unexpected sight or fact suddenly catches attention and causes surprise.

Common phrases

  • trouver surprenant

    find it surprising

  • fait surprenant

    surprising fact

Similar words

étonnant: Producing astonishment through an unforeseen event or situation.
étrange: Giving a strange or unusual impression when observed.
inattendu: Not anticipated or announced, and thus surprising when it occurs.

Definition in French

Qui étonne du fait de son caractère inattendu.

Word origin

Surprenant comes from the present participle of surprendre, which descends through Old French from Latin superprehendere, meaning to seize from above or unexpectedly.

Usage tips

  • Surprenant usually describes the thing that causes surprise, while a person's reaction is expressed with surpris, as in Je suis surpris.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word