inesperado
“inesperado” means “unexpected” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
unexpected, unforeseen
Also: sudden
📝 In Action
Su visita fue totalmente inesperada, ¡qué alegría!
B1His visit was totally unexpected, what a joy!
La tormenta inesperada arruinó nuestros planes de picnic.
B2The unexpected storm ruined our picnic plans.
Recibimos una llamada inesperada del hospital.
B1We received an unexpected call from the hospital.
the unexpected
📝 In Action
Debemos prepararnos para lo inesperado.
B2We must prepare ourselves for the unexpected.
En la vida, lo inesperado es a menudo lo más emocionante.
C1In life, the unexpected is often the most exciting thing.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: inesperado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the feminine form of 'inesperado'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Inesperado' comes from the prefix 'in-' (meaning 'not') and the word 'esperado' (meaning 'expected'). 'Esperado' is the past form of the verb 'esperar,' which originally comes from the Latin verb *sperare*, meaning 'to hope' or 'to look forward to.' Thus, 'inesperado' literally means 'not hoped for' or 'not looked forward to/expected.'
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'inesperado' and 'sorpresa'?
'Inesperado' is an adjective, meaning 'unexpected' (e.g., 'una noticia inesperada'). 'Sorpresa' is a noun, meaning 'surprise' (e.g., '¡Qué sorpresa!'). They are often used together, as in 'una sorpresa inesperada' (an unexpected surprise).
How do I make 'inesperado' plural?
To make it plural, you just add an -s: 'inesperados' (masculine plural) or 'inesperadas' (feminine plural). For example: 'cambios inesperados' (unexpected changes).