Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Surprised" in Italian: sorpreso/a
sorpreso/a
Surprised in Italian is sorpreso (masculine) or sorpresa (feminine): sor-PREH-zoh / sor-PREH-zah. Sono sorpreso means I'm surprised. Che sorpresa! is what a surprise!
Unexpected gift
Sono sorpreso: non me l'aspettavo.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce sorpreso/a
Say it
sor-PREH-zoh
/sorˈpre.zo/
Sorpreso stresses PREH: sor-PREH-zoh. Soft s in the middle. Feminine sorpresa ends with zah.
"Surprised" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| sorpreso / sorpresa | surprised (m / f) Adjective agreement. | Adjective agreement. |
| sono sorpreso/a | I'm surprised Default line. | Default line. |
| che sorpresa! | what a surprise! Reaction noun. | Reaction noun. |
| restare sorpreso/a | to be left surprised Common verb pairing. | Common verb pairing. |
How to use sorpreso/a in real life
- 1Unexpected gift
Sono sorpreso: non me l'aspettavo.
I'm surprised: I wasn't expecting it.
Sorpreso for a male speaker.
- 2Good news
Sei sorpresa della promozione?
Are you surprised by the promotion?
Sorpresa for a woman.
- 3Plot twist
Siamo rimasti sorpresi dal finale.
We were left surprised by the ending.
Plural sorpresi.
Mistakes English speakers make with sorpreso/a
Incorrect: Sono surprise.
Correct: Sono sorpreso/a.
Use the Italian adjective.
Incorrect: Lei è sorpreso.
Correct: Lei è sorpresa.
Feminine agreement: sorpresa.
Good to know
Che sorpresa! covers birthday reveals and sudden visits. Italians also say non me l'aspettavo for the same feeling. Sorpresa as a noun is the surprise party or gift itself.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Reacting to a last-minute ticket
ChatPal
Sei sorpreso del biglietto regalato?
Are you surprised by the gifted ticket?
You
Molto sorpreso! Non me l'aspettavo.
Very surprised! I wasn't expecting it.
ChatPal
Volevo vederti sorpreso, non solo contento.
I wanted to see you surprised, not only happy.
You
Missione riuscita: sono davvero sorpreso.
Mission accomplished: I'm truly surprised.
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 Italian
Gender forms?
Sorpreso (m), sorpresa (f), sorpresi / sorprese (plural).
Surprise as a noun?
Una sorpresa; che sorpresa!
I wasn't expecting it?
Non me l'aspettavo.
Positively surprised?
Piacevolmente sorpreso/a.
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
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