01
verwundern
to surprise
To cause surprise or astonishment in someone.
example
Seine plötzliche Kündigung hat uns alle sehr verwundert.
His sudden resignation surprised us all very much.
verwundern
to surprise
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verwundern' (to surprise) is an inseparable verb that goes back to 'wundern' (to surprise / to wonder). The prefix 'ver-' always stays attached to the verb and is not separated. The verb often sounds somewhat more formal or written than 'wundern' (to surprise / to wonder).
EXAMPLE
Es verwundert mich nicht, dass er die Prüfung bestanden hat.
It doesn't surprise me that he passed the exam.
Active vs. reflexive
It is important to distinguish the active and reflexive forms. 'Etwas verwundert jemanden' (something surprises someone) means that something triggers surprise. 'Sich über etwas verwundern' (to be surprised about something) means that a person is surprised.
EXAMPLE
Sein Verhalten verwundert mich sehr.
His behavior surprises me very much.
Typical sentence structure
A very common construction is the impersonal sentence with 'es' (it). The structure is: 'Es verwundert [Person im Akkusativ], dass ...' (It surprises [person in the accusative] that ...). This expresses that a certain fact is surprising to someone.
EXAMPLE
Es verwundert mich, dass du das nicht wusstest.
It surprises me that you didn't know that.
Compare with
verwundern vs überraschen
to surprise
'überraschen' and 'verwundern' both describe that something is not the way you expected it to be. 'überraschen' is more general and can also make someone happy. 'verwundern' tends to emphasize that you find something strange or think about it. It is often used reflexively: 'sich über etwas verwundern' (to be surprised about something). The words can be confused because both express a reaction to something unexpected. If the reaction is simply to something unexpected, 'überraschen' fits. If you are more amazed or irritated, 'verwundern' fits better.
verwundern
Vor dem Termin verwundern wir uns über die lange Wartezeit.
Before the appointment, we are surprised by the long wait.
überraschen
Die günstigen Preise haben uns beim Einkaufen überrascht.
The low prices surprised us while shopping.
In real life
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