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sorpresa

surprise

noun sohr-PREH-sah Less Common

Origin: From French surprise, from surprendre, 'to overtake'.

Usage Note

Sorpresa is the noun; the verb is sorprender ('to surprise'). The phrase de sorpresa or por sorpresa means 'by surprise': atacar por sorpresa. The standard adjective is sorprendente ('surprising'); sorpresivo also appears in Latin American usage.

Examples

"La fiesta fue una gran sorpresa."

Natural Translation

The party was a great surprise.

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