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"Sorprender" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to surprise", and "extrañar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to miss". Learn more about the difference between "sorprender" and "extrañar" below.
sorprender(
sohr
-
prehn
-
dehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to surprise
Sus amigos la sorprendieron con una fiesta de cumpleaños.Her friends surprised her with a birthday party.
a. to catch
Sorprendí a mi hijo intentando sacar una galleta del tarro de galletas.I caught my son trying to take a cookie out of the cookie jar.
sorprenderse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
extrañar(
ehks
-
trah
-
nyahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to miss
Extraño mucho a mi familia cuando estoy de viaje.I miss my family a lot when I'm traveling.
2. (to amaze)
a. to surprise
Me extraña que no haya venido a trabajar.It surprises me that she didn't come to work.
extrañarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to be surprised
Me extrañé de que no se acordara de mi cumpleaños.I was surprised that she didn't remember my birthday.
