आश्चर्य
āścarya/ɑːʃ.t͡ʃəɾ.jᵊ/
The English phrase 'surprise' can be translated into Hindi as आश्चर्य (āścarya).
The word refers to the feeling that something unexpected has happened.
Meaning: feeling that something unexpected has happened (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In formal situations, आश्चर्य conveys a feeling of astonishment or wonder, while हैरानी is a formal word for surprise. In everyday conversation, हैरानी is a more common, colloquial way to express surprise compared to the formal आश्चर्य.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the state of being 'surprised' as an adjective, you can use the form आश्चर्यचकित. To describe something that is 'surprising' or 'astonishing', use the adjective form आश्चर्यजनक.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /ɑːʃ.tʃəɾ.jᵊ/. It has three syllables.
Did you know?
- In Indian classical aesthetics, आश्चर्य is one of the nine 'rasas' or emotional essences used in art and dance to evoke a specific mood in the audience.
- The word हैरानी used for surprise comes from the Arabic root 'hayran', showing how Persian and Arabic influences shaped Hindi's everyday vocabulary.
- While आश्चर्य is the formal noun, Hindi speakers often express surprise using the word अरे (are), which acts more like an exclamation than a translation of 'surprise'.
Examples in context
- इससे मुझें आश्चर्य नहीं होता।It doesn't surprise me.This sentence is useful for showing how to express that something does not cause आश्चर्य.Tatoeba #2060329 by sabretou, translation #1330 by CK
- वाह, यह तो बहुत अचरज की बात है!Wow, that's really surprising!
- चौंक गया, पता नहीं लोग क्या-क्या बातें करते रहते हैं!I'm surprised, don't know what people keep talking about!
- इस खबर से मुझे बहुत आश्चर्य हुआ।is khabar se mujhe bahut aashcharya hua.I was very surprised by this news.
- उसकी सफलता मेरे लिए आश्चर्य की बात है।uskee saphalata mere lie aashcharya kee baat hai.Her success is a matter of surprise to me.
Example conversation
Aditya and Priya are discussing a sudden change in the weather.
- आदित्य Adityaइतनी जल्दी बारिश होना आश्चर्य की बात है।itnee jaldee baarish hona aashcharya kee baat hai.It is a surprise that it is raining so soon.
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ, मुझे भी बहुत आश्चर्य हो रहा है।haan, mujhe bhee bahut aashcharya ho raha hai.Yes, I am also very surprised.
- आदित्य Adityaक्या आकाश में काले बादल दिख रहे हैं?kyaa aakaash mein kaale baadal dikh rahe hain?Are there black clouds visible in the sky?
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ, आदित्य, मौसम अचानक बदल गया है।haan, aaditya, mausam achaanak badal gaya hai.Yes, Aditya, the weather has changed suddenly.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry आश्चर्य, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
