Language/Swiss-german/Vocabulary/Express-Surprise
Hi Swiss German learners! 😊
In this lesson, you will learn how to express surprise in Swiss German. Expressing surprise can help you in many social situations, especially when you want to show your interest or shock.
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: How to say Good Bye & Count to 10.
Basic Expressions[edit | edit source]
Let’s start with some basic expressions to show surprise. Here are a few options:
| Swiss German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Echt jetzt? | ɛçt jɛt͡s | Really? |
| Im Ernst? | ɪm ɛrnst | Are you serious? |
| Was?! | vas | What?! |
| Unglaublich! | ʊnɡlaublɪç | Unbelievable! |
Here are some examples of how to use these expressions:
- Person 1: "Ich habe gerade einen Elefanten gesehen." (I just saw an elephant.)
- Person 2: "Was? Das ist ja unglaublich!" (What? That's unbelievable!)
- Person 1: "Ich habe im Lotto gewonnen." (I won the lottery.)
- Person 2: "Im Ernst?! Echt jetzt?" (Are you serious?! Really?)
Longer Expressions[edit | edit source]
If you want to convey more complex and intense levels of surprise, you can use the following expressions:
| Swiss German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ich bin sprachlos. | ɪç bɪn ʃpraːçloːs | I am speechless. |
| Ich kann es kaum glauben. | ɪç kan ɛs kaʊm ɡlaʊbən | I can hardly believe it. |
| Das haut mich um. | das haʊt mɪç ʊm | That blows me away. |
| Ich bin total überrascht. | ɪç bɪn toˈtaːl ˈyːbɐʃrɐçt | I am totally surprised. |
Here are some examples of how to use these expressions:
- Person 1: "Ich bin gerade aus einem Flugzeug gesprungen." (I just jumped out of an airplane.)
- Person 2: "Ich bin sprachlos! Das ist unglaublich mutig!" (I am speechless! That is incredibly brave!)
- Person 1: "Ich habe meine Großmutter nach 10 Jahren wieder gesehen." (I saw my grandmother again after 10 years.)
- Person 2: "Ich kann es kaum glauben! Wie war es?" (I can hardly believe it! How was it?)
Cultural Tips[edit | edit source]
- When expressing surprise, Swiss Germans tend to use gestures, such as putting their hand over their mouth, widening their eyes, or raising their eyebrows. - Swiss Germans value punctuality and reliability. It might come as a surprise to them if someone is late or does not keep their promise. - Switzerland is famous for chocolate and cheese. Try the Swiss specialty called "Fondue" - it is a dish made out of melted cheese served with bread.
Feel free to practice these expressions with native speakers on the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Here is a dialogue to help you grasp the context:
- Person 1: "Ich habe gerade meine Wohnung renoviert." (I just renovated my apartment.)
- Person 2: "Echt jetzt? Wie lange hat das gedauert?" (Really? How long did it take?)
- Person 1: "Nur eine Woche." (Just one week.)
- Person 2: "Im Ernst?! Das ist ja unglaublich! Sieht es sehr anders aus?" (Are you serious?! That's unbelievable! Does it look very different?)
- Person 1: "Ja, es sieht wunderschön aus." (Yes, it looks beautiful.)
- Person 2: "Ich bin total überrascht! Kann ich es mal besichtigen?" (I am totally surprised! Can I visit it sometime?)
Sources[edit | edit source]
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]