Surprisingly in Different Languages
Discover 'Surprisingly' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'surprisingly' is a small phrase with a big impact. It's a word that signifies the unexpected, the unusual, and the extraordinary. It's a word that can add intrigue to any sentence, and it's a word that is used in cultures all around the world.
But what does 'surprisingly' mean in different languages? Understanding the translation of this word can give us a unique insight into how different cultures express the unexpected. For example, in Spanish, 'surprisingly' translates to ' sorprendentemente ', while in French, it's 'surprenantement'. In German, it's 'verblüffenderweise', and in Japanese, it's '意外に'.
The word 'surprisingly' also has a rich cultural importance. It's a word that has been used in literature, music, and art to express the unexpected twists and turns of life. From Shakespeare's plays to modern-day pop songs, 'surprisingly' has been a part of our cultural lexicon for centuries.
So why might someone want to know the translation of 'surprisingly' in different languages? For travelers, it can be a fun and interesting way to connect with the local culture. For language learners, it's a great way to expand your vocabulary and improve your language skills. And for anyone interested in language and culture, it's a fascinating exploration of how different cultures express the same concept.
In the following list, you'll find the translations of 'surprisingly' in over 20 different languages. Whether you're a language learner, a traveler, or just someone interested in language and culture, we hope you find this list informative and engaging.
Surprisingly
Surprisingly in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | verbasend | ||
| In older Afrikaans, 'verbasend' was primarily used in the sense of 'causing someone to become dumbfounded'. | |||
| Amharic | በሚገርም ሁኔታ | ||
| The term በሚገርም ሁኔታ literally means "in a surprising manner" and is often used to express astonishment or unexpectedness. | |||
| Hausa | da mamaki | ||
| Da mamaki can also mean "unexpected" or "astonishing". | |||
| Igbo | ihe ijuanya | ||
| The Igbo word "ihe ijuanya" literally means "a thing of wonder". | |||
| Malagasy | mahagaga | ||
| The word "mahagaga" in Malagasy also means "unexpectedly" or "suddenly". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | zodabwitsa | ||
| The word "zodabwitsa" likely comes from the words "za+da+bwitsitsa", meaning "to be astonished suddenly" | |||
| Shona | zvinoshamisa | ||
| The word "zvinoshamisa" in Shona can also refer to something that is unexpected or extraordinary. | |||
| Somali | layaab | ||
| The Somali term "layaab" is derived from the Arabic word "la'iba," which also means "playful" or "ludicrous." | |||
| Sesotho | ho makatsang | ||
| "Ho makatsang" can also mean "indeed" or "in fact". | |||
| Swahili | cha kushangaza | ||
| The word "cha kushangaza" in Swahili can also mean "amazing" or "wonderful." | |||
| Xhosa | ngokumangalisayo | ||
| The word 'ngokumangalisayo' is derived from the word 'mangaliso', meaning 'surprise', and the prefix 'ngo-', which indicates the manner in which something is done. | |||
| Yoruba | iyalẹnu | ||
| The word "iyalẹnu" also refers to the "seed of the African locust bean," a type of spice commonly used in West African cuisine | |||
| Zulu | ngokumangazayo | ||
| The word "ngokumangazayo" can also be used to describe something unexpected or extraordinary. | |||
| Bambara | kabako don | ||
| Ewe | nukutɔe | ||
| Kinyarwanda | igitangaje | ||
| Lingala | likambo ya kokamwa | ||
| Luganda | ekyewuunyisa | ||
| Sepedi | ka mo go makatšago | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nea ɛyɛ nwonwa | ||
Surprisingly in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | بشكل مدهش | ||
| The word "بشكل مدهش" also means "out of the ordinary" or "remarkably" in Arabic. | |||
| Hebrew | למרבה ההפתעה | ||
| The Hebrew word "למרבה ההפתעה" is an expression, not a single word, and literally means "to the enhancement of the surprise". | |||
| Pashto | په حیرانتیا سره | ||
| Arabic | بشكل مدهش | ||
| The word "بشكل مدهش" also means "out of the ordinary" or "remarkably" in Arabic. | |||
Surprisingly in Western European Languages
| Albanian | çuditërisht | ||
| çuditërisht is an Albanian adverb derived from the noun "çudi" (wonder, surprise) and the suffix "-ërisht" (in a manner), indicating a manner that is surprising or unexpected. | |||
| Basque | harrigarriro | ||
| The word "harrigarriro" can also refer to a state of being amazed or astonished. | |||
| Catalan | sorprenentment | ||
| The Catalan word "sorprenentment" derives from the verb "sorprendre" (to surprise), which in turn comes from the Latin "superhendere" (to seize, to catch). | |||
| Croatian | iznenađujuče | ||
| The word "iznenađujuče" is formed from the words "iznenada" (suddenly) and "-uće" (suffix forming an adjective from an adverb), so it literally means "suddenly occurring". | |||
| Danish | overraskende | ||
| In Danish, the word "overraskende" can also mean "unexpectedly" or "all of a sudden." | |||
| Dutch | verrassend genoeg | ||
| The word "verrassend genoeg" originally meant "unexpectedly" or "suddenly". | |||
| English | surprisingly | ||
| The word 'surprisingly' is derived from the Old French word 'sorprendre', meaning 'to seize' or 'to overtake'. | |||
| French | étonnamment | ||
| "Étonnamment" is not the feminine form of "étourdi". It is derived from the 13th-century French verb "estonner", meaning "to stun". | |||
| Frisian | ferrassend | ||
| Etymology of 'ferrassend': 'fer' means 'far'; 'rassend' means 'traveling, rushing' | |||
| Galician | sorprendentemente | ||
| Sorprendentemente is an adverb formed from the verb sorprender (to surprise) and the suffix -mente (meaning 'in a manner') | |||
| German | überraschenderweise | ||
| Überraschenderweise shares the same root with the word for 'surprise' (Überraschung) and 'to burst forth' (rauschen) | |||
| Icelandic | furðu | ||
| The word "furðu" is derived from the Old Norse word "furða" meaning "wonder" or "marvel" | |||
| Irish | ionadh | ||
| Ionadh can also mean "astonishment" and comes from the word "ion" meaning "wonder". | |||
| Italian | sorprendentemente | ||
| The word "sorprendentemente" derives from the Latin "superprehendere," meaning "to seize from above," and has connotations of unexpectedness and suddenness. | |||
| Luxembourgish | verwonnerlech | ||
| The word "verwonnerlech" comes from the Old High German word "verwundern", meaning "to cause wonder". It can also mean "unexpectedly" or "astoundingly". | |||
| Maltese | sorprendentement | ||
| } | |||
| Norwegian | overraskende | ||
| The word "overraskende" comes from the Old Norse word "ofrása," meaning "fear" or "terror." | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | surpreendentemente | ||
| The word 'surpreendentemente' has roots in the Latin verb 'superprehendere', which means to grasp something suddenly or unexpectedly. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | gu h-iongantach | ||
| The word "gu h-iongantach" in Scots Gaelic can also mean "extremely" or "greatly". | |||
| Spanish | asombrosamente | ||
| The word "asombrosamente" is derived from the Latin word "expavere", meaning "to be struck with terror or amazement". | |||
| Swedish | förvånande | ||
| It is derived from the Old Swedish word "förvån" meaning "to expect", hence it literally means "against expectation". | |||
| Welsh | yn rhyfeddol | ||
| Yn rhyfeddol is an adverb that literally means 'in strange fashion', but it is often used to express surprise. | |||
Surprisingly in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | дзіўна | ||
| "Дзіўна" has meanings of "strange" and "wonderful" and comes from the root "дзівіць" ("to amaze"). | |||
| Bosnian | iznenađujuće | ||
| The word 'iznenađujuće' is derived from the verb 'iznenaditi' (to surprise), which itself comes from the noun 'nenad' (suddenness). | |||
| Bulgarian | изненадващо | ||
| Изненадващо is derived from the verb изненадам meaning “to surprise”. The word is used to describe something unexpected, shocking, or surprising. | |||
| Czech | překvapivě | ||
| The Czech word "překvapivě" also means "astonishingly", "amazingly", or "unexpectedly". | |||
| Estonian | üllatavalt | ||
| Üllatavalt shares its root with the word "ületama" ("to surpass"), implying that something surprising exceeds expectations. | |||
| Finnish | yllättävän | ||
| "Yllättävä" also means "amazing" or "unbelievable." | |||
| Hungarian | meglepően | ||
| The Hungarian word "meglepően" derives from "meglepni" (to surprise), which originated from "lep" (to cover), and "meg" (a verbal prefix intensifying the meaning of the root). | |||
| Latvian | pārsteidzoši | ||
| The Latvian word "pārsteidzoši" (surprisingly) is derived from the verb "pārsteigt" (to surprise) and the suffix "-oši" (meaning "-ing"). | |||
| Lithuanian | stebėtinai | ||
| The word "stebėtinai" comes from the Lithuanian verb "stebėti" meaning "to observe" or "to watch". | |||
| Macedonian | изненадувачки | ||
| The word "изненадувачки" in Macedonian is derived from the verb "изненади" meaning "to surprise" and can also be used to mean "unexpectedly" or "out of the blue". | |||
| Polish | zaskakująco | ||
| "Zaskakująco" in Polish derives from the idiom "zaskoczyć kogoś za płachtką", meaning "to ambush someone behind a fence or sheet". | |||
| Romanian | surprinzător | ||
| The Romanian word surprinzător, meaning surprisingly, shares etymological roots with the English words surprise and supernatural. | |||
| Russian | как ни странно | ||
| The phrase «как ни странно» literally translates to «how strange», suggesting a sense of unexpectedness. | |||
| Serbian | изненађујуће | ||
| The word 'изненађујуће' (surprisingly) in Serbian is derived from the word 'нада' (surprise) and means 'contrary to expectations'. | |||
| Slovak | prekvapivo | ||
| "Prekvapivo" is derived from the root "kvapa", meaning "hurry" or "speed", implying something coming unexpectedly or at a brisk pace. | |||
| Slovenian | presenetljivo | ||
| The word “presenetljivo” in Slovenian derives from the verb “presenetiti” (“to surprise”) and the suffix “-ljivo”, which indicates a surprising or unexpected quality. | |||
| Ukrainian | дивно | ||
| The word "дивно" in Ukrainian originates from the Proto-Slavic root "divьno", which means "wild" or "untamed". | |||
Surprisingly in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | আশ্চর্যজনকভাবে | ||
| The word "আশ্চর্যজনকভাবে" is derived from the Sanskrit word "āścaryajanaka", which means "causing wonder". | |||
| Gujarati | આશ્ચર્યજનક રીતે | ||
| આશ્ચર્યજનક રીતે is an adverb which means in an astonishing, unexpected manner. The word is derived from the Sanskrit word 'ashcharya' meaning 'wonder, astonishment' and the Gujarati suffix 'janak' meaning 'causing'. Thus, the word literally means 'causing astonishment'. | |||
| Hindi | हैरानी की बात है | ||
| The word "हैरानी की बात है" (hairaani ki baat hai) in Hindi is equivalent to the English expression "It is a matter of surprise". | |||
| Kannada | ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯಕರವಾಗಿ | ||
| Malayalam | അതിശയകരമെന്നു പറയട്ടെ | ||
| Marathi | आश्चर्यचकितपणे | ||
| आश्चर्यचकितपणे is a combination of the words 'आश्चर्य' (surprise) and 'चकितपणे' (in a astonished way), implying an overwhelming sense of surprise | |||
| Nepali | अचम्मको कुरा | ||
| The literal Nepali translation of "अचम्मको कुरा" (surprisingly) is "a thing of astonishment". | |||
| Punjabi | ਹੈਰਾਨੀ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਹੈ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | පුදුමයට කරුණක් | ||
| Tamil | ஆச்சரியப்படும் விதமாக | ||
| Telugu | ఆశ్చర్యకరంగా | ||
| Urdu | حیرت کی بات ہے | ||
Surprisingly in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 出奇 | ||
| 出奇 is a shortened form of 出乎意料, meaning "contrary to one's expectations" | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 出奇 | ||
| "出奇" can also refer to "the exceptional, a miraculous feat," or "to be unusual, to be exceptional", or “something unusual or extraordinary" and was used that way during the Three Kingdoms era. | |||
| Japanese | 意外と | ||
| The word "意外と" can also mean "unexpectedly" or "contrary to expectations." | |||
| Korean | 놀랍게도 | ||
| Mongolian | гайхалтай | ||
| Гайхалтай (гаях тал) - 'удивительно' ('неожиданно' + 'сторона') | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အံ့သြစရာ | ||
Surprisingly in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | heran | ||
| The word "heran" also has a connotation of astonishment or wonder. | |||
| Javanese | kaget | ||
| The word "kaget" in Javanese can also mean "shocked" or "startled". | |||
| Khmer | គួរឱ្យភ្ញាក់ផ្អើល | ||
| ាៅប្ឞិនាក៊្឵នវ៌្ងម្ង្ចីក្បង៍ក្ម៉្ចណនខងប្វខិ្ចិដខ៊ងកកនខមង្ន្ខាបនម្ខខន្បងងានវ៌ង្ិនាក្ខី្រ្ាងខិ្ិប្របនក្មម៊ង៊និកខកប្ក្ង្រ៊កនាខបរដលប្កខនប្ប្រ្ិនងនីង្ក្បខង្រ្ងមមបកងនិម្រដក្ក្ក្រ្រត្ខាខីខកនងមចាៅសាៅតម្មដខ្ីនម្ង្ប្ម្រត្ីកក្ររងខងងានវ៌្ងម្ិនាមដលប្កខនប្លង្ខ្ាកមដ្បន្ាបកប្឵ខានង្ិងខមមចនី្ខងបខបនវ្ក្ង្ង្ចកចប្រ្លក្ម្ក្ខាបនម្ | |||
| Lao | ໜ້າ ແປກໃຈ | ||
| Malay | mengejutkan | ||
| The word "mengejutkan" in Malay can also mean "astonishing" or "shocking". | |||
| Thai | น่าแปลกใจ | ||
| In Pali, the word "adbhut" can mean "wonderful" or "miraculous". | |||
| Vietnamese | thật ngạc nhiên | ||
| "Thật ngạc nhiên" in Vietnamese can also mean "really!" or "unbelievable!" | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | nakakagulat | ||
Surprisingly in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | təəccüblü | ||
| "təəccüblü" can mean "wonderful" or "admirable" and it derives from the word "təəccüblənmək" meaning "to be surprised". | |||
| Kazakh | таңқаларлық | ||
| Kyrgyz | таң калыштуу | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "таң калыштуу" not only means "surprisingly", but also "unexpectedly" and "amazingly". | |||
| Tajik | тааҷуб | ||
| In Persian, from which the word "тааҷуб" is derived, the word "عجب" means "astonishment" or "admiration." | |||
| Turkmen | geň galdyryjy | ||
| Uzbek | ajablanarli | ||
| Some think the word "ajablanarli" comes from "ajab" (strange) and "lan" (to become), while others argue it derives from the Arabic word "'ajaban" (wonderful). | |||
| Uyghur | ھەيران قالارلىق | ||
Surprisingly in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | pūʻiwa | ||
| The word “pūʻiwa” also refers to the sound made by a bird or a pig. | |||
| Maori | maere | ||
| The Maori word "maere" can also mean "bright" or "clear". | |||
| Samoan | ofo | ||
| The word 'ofo' is used in other Polynesian languages, such as Tahitian, where it also means 'astonishment'. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | nakakagulat | ||
| "Nakakagulat" is derived from the root word "gulat" meaning "surprise" and the affix "naka-" which indicates a state or condition, hence "being surprised". | |||
Surprisingly in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | muspharkañawa | ||
| Guarani | sorprendentemente | ||
Surprisingly in International Languages
| Esperanto | surprize | ||
| The Esperanto word 'surprize' comes from the French word 'surprise' and can also mean 'astonishment' or 'amazement'. | |||
| Latin | mirum | ||
| The alternate meanings of “mīrum” include “wonderful” and “amazing”. | |||
Surprisingly in Others Languages
| Greek | παραδόξως | ||
| The word "παραδόξως" comes from the Greek "παραδοξία" meaning "unexpected opinion"} | |||
| Hmong | ceeb ceeb | ||
| The reduplicated word ceeb ceeb, used to express surprise, is derived from the word ceeb, meaning "to be startled". | |||
| Kurdish | ecêbmayî | ||
| The Kurdish word "ecêbmayî" also has the archaic meaning of "astonishing, bewildering" in Arabic. | |||
| Turkish | şaşırtıcı bir şekilde | ||
| Şaşırtıcı bir şekilde, 'şaşırtıcı bir şekilde' ifadesi hem 'unexpectedly' hem de 'in a surprising way' anlamlarına gelebilir. | |||
| Xhosa | ngokumangalisayo | ||
| The word 'ngokumangalisayo' is derived from the word 'mangaliso', meaning 'surprise', and the prefix 'ngo-', which indicates the manner in which something is done. | |||
| Yiddish | סאַפּרייזינגלי | ||
| The word "сאַפּרייזינגלי" can also mean "astoundingly" or "unexpectedly". | |||
| Zulu | ngokumangazayo | ||
| The word "ngokumangazayo" can also be used to describe something unexpected or extraordinary. | |||
| Assamese | আচৰিত ধৰণে | ||
| Aymara | muspharkañawa | ||
| Bhojpuri | आश्चर्य के बात बा | ||
| Dhivehi | ހައިރާން ކުރުވަނިވި ކަމެކެވެ | ||
| Dogri | हैरानी दी गल्ल | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | nakakagulat | ||
| Guarani | sorprendentemente | ||
| Ilocano | nakaskasdaaw ta | ||
| Krio | i sɔprayz fɔ no se | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بە شێوەیەکی سەرسوڕهێنەر | ||
| Maithili | आश्चर्यक बात | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯉꯀꯄꯥ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | mak tak maiin | ||
| Oromo | waan nama ajaa’ibu | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟଜନକ | | ||
| Quechua | admirakuypaq | ||
| Sanskrit | आश्चर्यवत् | ||
| Tatar | гаҗәп | ||
| Tigrinya | ብዘገርም መንገዲ | ||
| Tsonga | hi ndlela yo hlamarisa | ||