sorpresa
neutral, Mexico
In Mexico a surprise is a sorpresa. At a party people shout ¡sorpresa! when the guest of honor walks in, and a nice reaction is ¡qué sorpresa! It is also called qué sorpresa.
Meaning: unexpected event (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| sorpresa | neutral, Mexico |
| ¡Sorpresa! | exclamation |
| qué sorpresa | reaction |
Mexican birthdays often include a fiesta sorpresa. You can also say te tengo una sorpresa for "I have a surprise for you".
How does it change in a sentence?
Sorpresa is feminine: una sorpresa, la sorpresa. The verb is sorprender, as in me sorprendiste.
How do you pronounce it?
Say sorpresa as "sor-PREH-sah", with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- A piñata is a favorite part of many Mexican birthday parties, and it often holds a sweet surprise inside.
Examples in context
- ¡Qué sorpresa verte aquí!What a surprise to see you here!
- Le hicimos una fiesta sorpresa.We threw him a surprise party.
- Te tengo una sorpresa.I have a surprise for you.
Example conversation
Friends wait for Alicia in the dark at her own party in Guadalajara.
- Amigos¡Sorpresa!Surprise!
- AliciaNo puede ser, ¡qué sorpresa!It cannot be, what a surprise!
- AmigaFeliz cumpleaños, Ali.Happy birthday, Ali.
