surprise
/syʁ.pʁiz/
The English word "surprise" is translated into French as surprise.
The word surprise is a noun used to describe the feeling that something unexpected has happened.
Meaning: feeling that something unexpected has happened (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun surprise is feminine. This means that any adjectives used to modify it must also be in the feminine form. Note that while surprise is the noun for the feeling, the verb surprendre (to surprise) is used to express the actual action of surprising someone.
How do you pronounce it?
/syʁ.pʁiz/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The French word surprise shares a root with the English word 'surprise', but both originate from the Old French word surprendre, which literally meant 'to seize' or 'to take by surprise' in a military sense.
- While surprise describes the feeling, the French use the phrase tomber des nues (to fall from the clouds) to express the shock of a total surprise.
- The verb surprendre is often used in French to describe the act of 'overtaking' someone, such as a runner in a race, which is a different usage than the English 'surprise'.
Examples in context
- Je les ai surprises.I did surprise them.Tatoeba #4223995 by sacredceltic, translation #3909288 by CH
- Quelle bonne surprise !What a happy surprise!Tatoeba #8013849 by Aiji, translation #4502450 by CK
- Nous avons une surprise.We have a surprise.Tatoeba #7368201 by tras, translation #2548509 by CK
- Il a observé la scène avec étonnement.He observed the scene with astonishment.
- Sa réaction a été marquée par la surprise.His reaction was marked by surprise.
- Oh là là, je ne m'attendais pas à ça !Oh là là, I wasn't expecting that!
- Quelle surprise de te voir ici !What a surprise to see you here!
- C'est incroyable, tu as réussi !It's unbelievable, you did it!
- J'étais complètement bluffé par sa performance.I was totally blown away by his performance.
- Sa révélation m'a laissé sidéré.His revelation left me dumbfounded.
- 134 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo arrives home early from a trip.
- HugoSalut Emma ! C'est une surprise !Hi Emma! It's a surprise!
- EmmaOh mon Dieu ! Quelle surprise !Oh my God! What a surprise!
- HugoJe voulais te faire une petite surprise.I wanted to give you a little surprise.
- EmmaJe suis vraiment ravie, Hugo !I am really delighted, Hugo!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry surprise, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries surprise, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
