تَعَجُّب
ta'ajjubmasculine
The English word 'surprise' can be translated into Urdu using تَعَجُّب (ta'ajjub). Wiktionary also lists حَیرَت (hairat) and حَیرَانْگِی (hairāngī).
Meaning: feeling that something unexpected has happened (noun)
Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| تَعَجُّب | ta'ajjub | masculine |
| حَیرَت | hairat | feminine |
| حَیرَانْگِی | hairāngī | feminine |
These terms are used to express the feeling that something unexpected has occurred.
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on the type of surprise described. تَعَجُّب is often used to describe a cognitive state of wonder or the intellectual act of being surprised. In contrast, حَیرَت is used to describe a more visceral, emotional or stunned state of amazement. حَیرَانْگِی is another feminine form for the concept of surprise.
How does it change in a sentence?
While the nouns describe the feeling, if you wish to describe a person who is actually surprised or bewildered, you should use the adjective form حَیرَان.
How do you pronounce it?
ta'ajjub
Did you know?
- The word تَعَجُّب is borrowed from Arabic, where it originally referred to a specific grammatical mood used to express wonder or exclamation.
- The word حَیرَت is also used in Urdu poetry to describe a state of spiritual or mystical bewilderment where a person is so overwhelmed by the divine that they become speechless.
- The word حَیرَان can describe someone who is surprised, but it is also the standard word for being 'lost' or 'confused' when navigating a place.
Examples in context
- اس واقعے پر مجھے بہت تَعَجُّب ہوا۔Is waq'e par mujhe bohat ta'ajub hua.I was very surprised by this incident.
- اس کی باتوں میں تَعَجُّب کی بات ہے۔Us ki baaton mein ta'ajub ki baat hai.There is something surprising about his words.
Example conversation
Zainab and Ahmad are discussing a sudden change in the weather.
- زینب Zainabاچانک بارش سے مجھے بہت تَعَجُّب ہوا۔Achanak barish se mujhe bohat ta'ajub hua.I was very surprised by the sudden rain.
- احمد Ahmedہاں، موسم کا اندازہ لگانا مشکل ہے۔Haan, mausam ka andaza lagana mushkil hai.Yes, it is difficult to predict the weather.
- زینب Zainabکیا آپ کو بھی تَعَجُّب ہوا؟Kya aap ko bhi ta'ajub hua?Were you surprised too?
- احمد Ahmedجی ہاں، میں بھی حیران ہوں۔Ji haan, mein bhi hairan hoon.Yes, I am surprised too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “surprise” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
