sorprendente
“sorprendente” means “surprising” in Spanish (causing astonishment).
surprising, amazingAlso: astonishing
📝 In Action
El regalo de mi abuela fue una sorpresa realmente sorprendente.
A2My grandmother's gift was a truly surprising surprise.
Los resultados del experimento fueron sorprendentes; nadie los esperaba.
B1The results of the experiment were surprising; nobody expected them.
Su capacidad para resolver problemas complejos es absolutamente sorprendente.
B2Her ability to solve complex problems is absolutely astonishing.
Word Connections
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "sorprendente" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sorprendente
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'sorprendente'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
It comes directly from the Spanish verb 'sorprender' (to surprise). This verb is built upon the Latin roots *super* (over, above) and *prehendere* (to seize or catch). The word's history suggests 'to catch someone when they are not expecting it.'
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'sorprendente' and 'sorprendido'?
'Sorprendente' describes the thing that *causes* the feeling of surprise (e.g., 'the surprising news'). 'Sorprendido' describes the person who *has* the feeling (e.g., 'I am surprised').
Does 'sorprendente' change for masculine and feminine nouns?
No. It is a gender-neutral adjective because it ends in '-e'. It only changes to 'sorprendentes' for plural nouns.