Usage Note
Verwunderung describes a state of mild to strong surprise or puzzlement — less intense than Entsetzen (horror) but stronger than Überraschung (surprise). zu meiner Verwunderung (to my astonishment) is a common set phrase.
Examples
"Zu seiner Verwunderung hatte niemand etwas bemerkt."
Natural Translation
To his astonishment, nobody had noticed anything.
Literal Translation
To his astonishment had nobody anything noticed.
Related Words
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