sorprender

to surprise

sorprender(sohr-prehn-dehr)

transitive verb

1. (to astonish)

a. to surprise

Sus amigos la sorprendieron con una fiesta de cumpleaños.

Her friends surprised her with a birthday party.

2. (to catch unawares)

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

pronominal verb

3. (to be amazed)

a. to be surprised

Me sorprendí cuando me propuso matrimonio.

I was surprised when he proposed.

sorprender

transitive verb

1. (asombrar)

a. to surprise

me sorprende verte por aquíI'm surprised to see you here

no me sorprende que se haya marchadoI'm not surprised she's left

2. (atrapar, pillar)

a. to catch

nos sorprendió la tormentawe got caught in the storm

sorprender a alguien (haciendo algo)to catch somebody (doing something)

pronominal verb

3. (general)

a. to be surprised

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sorprender

transitive verb

1 (asombrar) to surprise

no me sorprendería que ... I wouldn't be surprised if ...

2 (coger desprevenido) to catch; (Mil) to surprise

lo sorprendieron robando they caught him stealing

nos sorprendieron todavía en pijama

3 [+conversación] to overhear; [+secreto] to find out; discover; [+escondrijo] to find

intransitive verb

to be surprising

sorprende observar cómo lo hace it's surprising to see how he does it; sorprende la delicadeza de su verso the delicacy of her poetry is surprising

pronominal verb

sorprenderse to be surprised

me sorprendí de la claridad de sus ideas I was surprised at the clarity of his ideas; no me sorprendí de que se enfadara I wasn't surprised he got angry; se sorprendió mucho he was very surprised