650+ Ways to Say “Surprise in Other Languages”

Surprise is one of those universal emotions that transcends borders. Whether it’s a sudden gift, unexpected news, or a fun twist in a story, expressing surprise can make interactions more lively and relatable. But what if you’re talking to someone from another country? Knowing how to say “surprise” in their language can help you connect instantly, show cultural awareness, and make your communication more heartfelt.

How to Say “Surprise” in 650 Different Languages

1. English (🇬🇧) – Surprise | Pronunciation: sur-PRIZE Example: The birthday party was such a surprise for her!
2. Spanish (🇪🇸) – Sorpresa | Pronunciation: sor-PREH-sah Example: ¡Qué sorpresa tan agradable verte aquí! (What a nice surprise to see you here!)
3. French (🇫🇷) – Surprise | Pronunciation: sur-PREEZ Example: C’était une belle surprise pour son anniversaire. (It was a lovely surprise for her birthday.)
4. German (🇩🇪) – Überraschung | Pronunciation: oo-ber-RAH-shung Example: Die Überraschung hat ihn wirklich glücklich gemacht. (The surprise really made him happy.)
5. Italian (🇮🇹) – Sorpresa | Pronunciation: sor-PREH-za Example: La festa era una sorpresa speciale per lei. (The party was a special surprise for her.)
6. Portuguese (🇵🇹) – Surpresa | Pronunciation: sur-PREH-za Example: Foi uma surpresa incrível receber sua visita! (It was an incredible surprise to receive your visit!)
7. Chinese (Simplified) (🇨🇳) – 惊喜 | Pronunciation: jing-shee Example: 她对生日礼物感到惊喜。 (She felt surprised by the birthday gift.)
8. Japanese (🇯🇵) – 驚き | Pronunciation: oh-doh-roh-kee Example: 彼の訪問は大きな驚きでした。 (His visit was a big surprise.)
9. Korean (🇰🇷) – 놀라움 | Pronunciation: nol-lah-um Example: 그 소식에 정말 놀라웠어요. (I was really surprised by the news.)
10. Russian (🇷🇺) – Сюрприз | Pronunciation: syur-PREEZ Example: Это был неожиданный сюрприз для всех. (It was an unexpected surprise for everyone.)
11. Arabic (🇸🇦) – مفاجأة | Pronunciation: mu-fa-ja-ah Example: كانت مفاجأة جميلة له. (It was a beautiful surprise for him.)
12. Hindi (🇮🇳) – आश्चर्य | Pronunciation: aash-chuh-rya Example: उसके जन्मदिन पर यह एक बड़ा आश्चर्य था। (It was a big surprise on her birthday.)
13. Turkish (🇹🇷) – Sürpriz | Pronunciation: SUR-priz Example: Partisi onun için büyük bir sürprizdi. (The party was a big surprise for him.)
14. Greek (🇬🇷) – Έκπληξη | Pronunciation: EHK-plee-xee Example: Η επίσκεψή του ήταν μια μεγάλη έκπληξη. (His visit was a big surprise.)
15. Swahili (🇰🇪) – Shughuli ya kushangaza | Pronunciation: shoo-gah-lee yah koo-shan-gah-za Example: Hadi siku yake ya kuzaliwa, ilikuwa shughuli ya kushangaza. (Until her birthday, it was a surprising event.)

16. Polish (🇵🇱) – Niespodzianka | Pronunciation: nyeh-spod-ZYAN-ka Example: To była dla niej prawdziwa niespodzianka. (It was a real surprise for her.)
17. Dutch (🇳🇱) – Verrassing | Pronunciation: veh-RAH-sing Example: Het feestje was een leuke verrassing voor hem. (The party was a nice surprise for him.)
18. Swedish (🇸🇪) – Överraskning | Pronunciation: uh-ver-RAS-ning Example: Hennes födelsedagspart var en överraskning. (Her birthday party was a surprise.)
19. Norwegian (🇳🇴) – Overraskelse | Pronunciation: oo-ver-RAS-kel-seh Example: Det var en stor overraskelse for ham. (It was a big surprise for him.)
20. Danish (🇩🇰) – Overraskelse | Pronunciation: oo-ver-RAS-kel-seh Example: Hun blev meget glad for overraskelsen. (She was very happy with the surprise.)
21. Finnish (🇫🇮) – Yllätys | Pronunciation: UU-lah-tus Example: Se oli iso yllätys hänelle. (It was a big surprise for her.)
22. Czech (🇨🇿) – Překvapení | Pronunciation: PRZHEK-vah-pen-ee Example: To byla pro něj velká překvapení. (It was a big surprise for him.)
23. Slovak (🇸🇰) – Prekvapenie | Pronunciation: PREH-kvah-pen-yeh Example: Narodeninová párty bola prekvapenie. (The birthday party was a surprise.)
24. Hungarian (🇭🇺) – Meglepetés | Pronunciation: MEG-leh-peh-taysh Example: Ez nagy meglepetés volt számára. (It was a big surprise for her.)
25. Romanian (🇷🇴) – Surpriză | Pronunciation: sur-PREE-zuh Example: A fost o surpriză minunată pentru ea. (It was a wonderful surprise for her.)
26. Bulgarian (🇧🇬) – Изненада | Pronunciation: iz-NEH-nah-dah Example: Партито беше голяма изненада за него. (The party was a big surprise for him.)
27. Serbian (🇷🇸) – Изненађење | Pronunciation: eez-neh-NAH-dyeh-nyeh Example: Rođendanska zabava je bila iznenađenje. (The birthday party was a surprise.)
28. Croatian (🇭🇷) – Iznenađenje | Pronunciation: eez-neh-NAH-dyeh-nyeh Example: To je bilo veliko iznenađenje za nju. (It was a big surprise for her.)
29. Bosnian (🇧🇦) – Iznenađenje | Pronunciation: eez-neh-NAH-dyeh-nyeh Example: Rođendanska zabava bila je iznenađenje. (The birthday party was a surprise.)
30. Slovenian (🇸🇮) – Presenečenje | Pronunciation: preh-seh-NEH-cheh-nyeh Example: To je bilo prijetno presenečenje. (It was a pleasant surprise.)
31. Lithuanian (🇱🇹) – Staigmena | Pronunciation: STAI-gmeh-nah Example: Tai buvo staigmena jos gimtadienio proga. (It was a birthday surprise for her.)
32. Latvian (🇱🇻) – Pārsteigums | Pronunciation: PAHR-stay-gooms Example: Tas bija liels pārsteigums viņam. (It was a big surprise for him.)
33. Estonian (🇪🇪) – Üllatus | Pronunciation: UU-lah-tus Example: See oli talle suur üllatus. (It was a big surprise for her.)
34. Icelandic (🇮🇸) – Óvænt | Pronunciation: OH-vae-nt Example: Þetta var óvænt gleði fyrir hana. (It was an unexpected joy for her.)
35. Irish (🇮🇪) – Iontas | Pronunciation: in-TOSS Example: Bhí sé iontas mór di. (It was a big surprise for her.)
36. Scottish Gaelic (🏴) – Ionadh | Pronunciation: EE-oh-nah Example: Bha e na ionadh mhòr dhi. (It was a big surprise for her.)
37. Welsh (🏴) – Syndod | Pronunciation: SIN-dod Example: Roedd y parti yn syndod mawr iddi. (The party was a big surprise for her.)
38. Maltese (🇲🇹) – Sorpriża | Pronunciation: sor-PREE-za Example: Il-parti kienet sorpriża kbira għalih. (The party was a big surprise for him.)
39. Hebrew (🇮🇱) – הפתעה | Pronunciation: haf-TA-ah Example: זה היה הפתעה נהדרת עבורה. (It was a wonderful surprise for her.)
40. Persian (🇮🇷) – شگفتی | Pronunciation: shog-FI-tee Example: این یک شگفتی عالی برای او بود. (It was a great surprise for her.)
41. Thai (🇹🇭) – ความประหลาดใจ | Pronunciation: khwaam bprà-làat-jai Example: มันเป็นความประหลาดใจสำหรับเธอ (It was a surprise for her.)
42. Vietnamese (🇻🇳) – Bất ngờ | Pronunciation: baht-ngaw Example: Buổi tiệc là một bất ngờ lớn cho cô ấy. (The party was a big surprise for her.)
43. Indonesian (🇮🇩) – Kejutan | Pronunciation: keh-JOO-tan Example: Pesta ulang tahunnya adalah kejutan. (Her birthday party was a surprise.)
44. Malay (🇲🇾) – Kejutan | Pronunciation: keh-JOO-tan Example: Hadiah itu benar-benar kejutan baginya. (The gift was truly a surprise for her.)
45. Filipino (🇵🇭) – Sorpresang | Pronunciation: sor-PREH-sang Example: Ang kanyang kaarawan ay isang sorpresang nakakatuwa. (Her birthday was a fun surprise.)
46. Bengali (🇧🇩) – বিস্ময় | Pronunciation: BISH-moi Example: তার জন্মদিনে এটি একটি বড় বিস্ময় ছিল। (It was a big surprise on her birthday.)
47. Tamil (🇮🇳) – ஆச்சரியம் | Pronunciation: AAH-chuh-ree-yum Example: அவரது பிறந்த நாளில் இது ஒரு ஆச்சரியம். (It was a surprise on her birthday.)
48. Telugu (🇮🇳) – ఆశ్చర్యం | Pronunciation: AASH-char-yum Example: ఇది ఆమెకు పెద్ద ఆశ్చర్యం. (It was a big surprise for her.)
49. Kannada (🇮🇳) – ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯ | Pronunciation: AASH-char-ya Example: ಜನ್ಮದಿನದ ಉತ್ಸವವು ಅವಳಿಗೆ ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯಕರವಾಯಿತು. (The birthday celebration was a surprise for her.)
50. Malayalam (🇮🇳) – ആശ്ചര്യം | Pronunciation: AASH-cha-ryam Example: അതൊരു വലിയ ആശ്ചര്യം ആയിരുന്നു. (It was a big surprise.)
51. Sinhalese (🇱🇰) – හදිසි | Pronunciation: ha-DEE-see Example: එය ඇයට විශාල හදිසි විය. (It was a big surprise for her.)
52. Urdu (🇵🇰) – حیرت | Pronunciation: hair-AT Example: یہ اس کے لئے ایک بڑی حیرت تھی۔ (It was a big surprise for her.)
53. Kazakh (🇰🇿) – Таңғалдыру | Pronunciation: tahn-gaal-DUR-oo Example: Бұл оған үлкен таңғалдыру болды. (It was a big surprise for her.)
54. Uzbek (🇺🇿) – Hayrat | Pronunciation: HAI-rat Example: Bu uning uchun katta hayrat edi. (It was a big surprise for her.)
55. Turkmen (🇹🇲) – Haýranlyk | Pronunciation: HAI-ran-lik Example: Bu onuň üçin uly haýranlyk boldy. (It was a big surprise for her.)
56. Kyrgyz (🇰🇬) – Таң калуу | Pronunciation: tang ka-LOO Example: Бул анын үчүн чоң таң калуу болду. (It was a big surprise for her.)
57. Tajik (🇹🇯) – Таҷассум | Pronunciation: tah-jass-oom Example: Ин барои ӯ таассуроти бузург буд. (It was a big surprise for her.)
58. Mongolian (🇲🇳) – Гайхамшиг | Pronunciation: GAi-kham-shig Example: Энэ түүнд гайхамшигтай бэлэг байсан. (It was a wonderful surprise for her.)
59. Georgian (🇬🇪) – საოცრება | Pronunciation: sa-ots-reh-beh Example: ეს იყო დიდი საოცრება მისთვის. (It was a big surprise for her.)
60. Armenian (🇦🇲) – Հիացմունք | Pronunciation: hi-AHTS-moonk Example: Դա նրա համար մեծ հիացմունք էր: (It was a big surprise for her.)
61. Azerbaijani (🇦🇿) – Təəccüb | Pronunciation: tah-eh-JUB Example: Bu onun üçün böyük təəccüb idi. (It was a big surprise for her.)
62. Albanian (🇦🇱) – Hab | Pronunciation: HAHB Example: Ishte një hab i madh për të. (It was a big surprise for her.)
63. Macedonian (🇲🇰) – Изненадување | Pronunciation: iz-neh-nah-DOO-vanje Example: Роденденската забава беше изненадување. (The birthday party was a surprise.)
64. Montenegrin (🇲🇪) – Iznenađenje | Pronunciation: eez-neh-NAH-dyeh-nyeh Example: To je bilo veliko iznenađenje za nju. (It was a big surprise for her.)
65. Latgalian (🇱🇻) – Pārsteigums | Pronunciation: PAHR-stay-gooms Example: Tas bija liels pārsteigums viņam. (It was a big surprise for him.)
66. Chichewa (🇲🇼) – Chosangalatsa | Pronunciation: cho-san-ga-LA-tsa Example: Kutchula kwake kunali chosangalatsa. (The gift was a surprise.)
67. Hausa (🇳🇬) – Abin mamaki | Pronunciation: ah-BIN mah-MAH-kee Example: Wannan kyauta ta kasance abin mamaki. (The gift was a surprise.)
68. Yoruba (🇳🇬) – Iyanu | Pronunciation: ee-YAH-noo Example: Ojo ibi rẹ jẹ iyanu nla. (Her birthday was a big surprise.)
69. Igbo (🇳🇬) – Ịtụnanya | Pronunciation: ee-TOO-nah-nya Example: Ememme ahụ bụ ịtụnanya nye ya. (The event was a surprise for her.)
70. Amharic (🇪🇹) – አድናቆት | Pronunciation: ahd-na-KOHT Example: የበዓሉ ፍርሃት አድናቆት ነበር። (The celebration was a surprise.)
71. Somali (🇸🇴) – Yaab | Pronunciation: yah-AHB Example: Xafladda dhalashada waxay ahayd yaab weyn. (The birthday party was a big surprise.)
72. Tigrinya (🇪🇷) – ድንቅ | Pronunciation: DEN-ik Example: በዕድል እንደ ድንቅ ነበር። (It was a surprise.)
73. Oromo (🇪🇹) – Dinqisi | Pronunciation: DIN-qi-see Example: Ayyaanni dhalootaa dinqisi guddaa ture. (The birthday celebration was a big surprise.)
74. Maori (🇳🇿) – Ohorere | Pronunciation: OH-ho-reh-reh Example: Ko te pāti he ohorere nui ki a ia. (The party was a big surprise for her.)
75. Samoan (🇼🇸) – Fa’ateʻia | Pronunciation: fah-ah-teh-EE-ah Example: Na’o le vaega o se fa’ateʻia tele mo ia. (It was a big surprise for her.)
76. Tongan (🇹🇴) – Faka’osi | Pronunciation: fah-kah-OH-see Example: Na’e faka’osi ‘a e pāti kiate ia. (The party was a big surprise for her.)
77. Fijian (🇫🇯) – Vakamalua | Pronunciation: va-ka-MA-loo-ah Example: Sa vaka-malua na soqo ni sucu. (The birthday gathering was a surprise.)
78. Hawaiian (🇺🇸) – Ho’ohihi | Pronunciation: ho-oh-HEE-hee Example: He ho’ohihi nui ka pāʻina. (The party was a big surprise.)
79. Gujarati (🇮🇳) – આશ્ચર્ય | Pronunciation: AASH-char-yuh Example: તે માટે આ એક મોટી આશ્ચર્ય હતી. (It was a big surprise for her.)
80. Marathi (🇮🇳) – आश्चर्य | Pronunciation: AASH-char-yuh Example: तिच्या वाढदिवसावर ही एक मोठी आश्चर्य होती. (It was a big surprise on her birthday.)
81. Punjabi (🇮🇳) – ਹੈਰਾਨੀ | Pronunciation: hey-RAH-nee Example: ਇਹ ਉਸ ਲਈ ਵੱਡਾ ਹੈਰਾਨੀ ਸੀ। (It was a big surprise for her.)
82. Kurdish (🇹🇷) – Serkeftin | Pronunciation: ser-KEF-tin Example: Ew ji bo wê serkeftin mezin bû. (It was a big surprise for her.)
83. Pashto (🇦🇫) – حیرانتیا | Pronunciation: hay-rahn-TEE-ah Example: دا د هغې لپاره لویه حیرانتیا وه. (It was a big surprise for her.)
84. Nepali (🇳🇵) – अचम्म | Pronunciation: a-CHUM Example: यो उसको लागि ठूलो अचम्म थियो। (It was a big surprise for her.)
85. Mongolian (🇲🇳) – Гайхамшиг | Pronunciation: GAi-kham-shig Example: Энэ түүнд гайхамшигтай бэлэг байсан. (It was a wonderful surprise for her.)

Conclusion

No matter where you go in the world, the word “surprise” always carries joy, excitement, and connection.