French · Emotions & Descriptions
"Surprised" in French: surpris(e)
surpris(e)
Surprised in French is surpris for a man and surprise for a woman. Je suis surpris(e) de… means I'm surprised that/to. Match the ending to the person.
Unexpected gift
Je suis vraiment surprise par ton cadeau.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce surpris(e)
Say it
sür-PREE / sür-PREEZ
/syʁ.pʁi/ /syʁ.pʁiz/
Surpris is sür-PREE. Surprise adds a z sound: sür-PREEZ. The u is like French tu, not oo.
"Surprised" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| surpris / surprise | surprised Agree with gender. | Agree with gender. |
| être surpris(e) de | to be surprised by/to Followed by noun or infinitive. | Followed by noun or infinitive. |
| quelle surprise ! | what a surprise! Reaction. | Reaction. |
| pris(e) au dépourvu | caught off guard Stronger surprise. | Stronger surprise. |
How to use surpris(e) in real life
- 1Unexpected gift
Je suis vraiment surprise par ton cadeau.
I'm really surprised by your gift.
Surprise if the speaker is feminine.
- 2Good news
Il est surpris d'avoir gagné.
He's surprised he won.
Surpris + de + infinitive/clause patterns.
- 3Party entrance
Surprise ! Tout le monde est déjà là.
Surprise! Everyone's already here.
Surprise as an exclamation.
Mistakes English speakers make with surpris(e)
Incorrect: Je suis surpris (said by a woman about herself).
Correct: Je suis surprise.
Feminine form ends in -e: surprise.
Incorrect: Je suis surprised.
Correct: Je suis surpris / surprise.
Use the French adjective.
Good to know
Agreement matters: un homme surpris, une femme surprise. Quelle surprise! works as a standalone reaction the same way English what a surprise does.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
An unannounced visit
ChatPal
Tu as l'air surpris de me voir.
You look surprised to see me.
You
Carrément surpris ! Tu n'avais rien dit.
Totally surprised! You hadn't said anything.
ChatPal
C'était le but. J'apporte des croissants.
That was the point. I brought croissants.
You
Dans ce cas, bienvenue.
In that case, welcome.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Surprised" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Surprised" in French
How do you say surprised in French?
Surpris (m) or surprise (f).
How do I say I'm surprised?
Je suis surpris / je suis surprise.
Does it agree with gender?
Yes: surpris vs surprise.
How do you pronounce surpris?
Sür-PREE; surprise is sür-PREEZ.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
