How to Pronounce Surprised

To pronounce "surprised", say SURPR-is-ed — 3 syllables, IPA /səˈpɹaɪzd/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

surprised

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/səˈpɹaɪzd/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “surprised”

"surprised" has 3 syllables: surpr-is-ed. It rhymes with surmised and utilized, if that helps it stick.

What does surprised mean?

verb

To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted by something unexpected.
“It surprises me that I owe twice as much as I thought I did.”
To do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise.
“He doesn’t know that I’m in the country – I thought I’d turn up at his house and surprise him.”

adjective

Caused to feel surprise, amazement or wonder, or showing an emotion due to an unexpected event.

Synonyms

overtake astonished

Hear “surprised” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with surprised

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

surmised utilized devised recognized ostracized scrutinized mesmerized chastised disguised disenfranchised realized despised

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "surprised"?▾

"Surprised" has 3 syllables: surpr · is · ed.

What is the IPA transcription of "surprised"?▾

The IPA transcription of "surprised" is /səˈpɹaɪzd/.

What does "surprised" mean?▾

Surprised: To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted by something unexpected.

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