sorprendente
“sorprendente” means “surprising” in Spanish (causing astonishment).
surprising, amazing
Also: astonishing
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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.
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Quick Quiz: sorprendente
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'sorprendente'?
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👥 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)
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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.