Bedeutung
To surprise someone unexpectedly.
Kultureller Hintergrund
It is generally considered slightly rude to drop by someone's house without calling first, as you might 'prendere alla sprovvista' the host. However, in smaller villages, this is more accepted. In meetings, 'prendere alla sprovvista' a colleague with a difficult question can be seen as a power move (agguato). It's often better to warn them beforehand. Italian news often uses 'colto alla sprovvista' to describe a government's failure to react to a crisis, highlighting a lack of foresight. If you catch a Southern Italian family 'alla sprovvista', they will likely apologize profusely for only having 'simple' food, even if they serve you a five-course meal.
Buy Time
Use 'Mi prendi alla sprovvista' as a filler phrase when you need 5 seconds to think of an answer in Italian.
Gender Trap
Remember: it's always 'sprovvista' with an 'A', even if you are a man!
Bedeutung
To surprise someone unexpectedly.
Buy Time
Use 'Mi prendi alla sprovvista' as a filler phrase when you need 5 seconds to think of an answer in Italian.
Gender Trap
Remember: it's always 'sprovvista' with an 'A', even if you are a man!
Verb Choice
Switch 'prendere' to 'cogliere' to sound 20% more sophisticated in written essays.
Social Buffer
If you visit someone unannounced, say 'Scusa se ti prendo alla sprovvista' immediately to show you respect their time.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrase.
Scusa, non volevo ______ alla sprovvista con questa notizia.
You need the object pronoun 'ti' (you) attached to the infinitive 'prendere'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
A) Mi ha preso alla sprovvisto. B) Mi ha preso alla sprovvista. C) Mi ha preso allo sprovvista.
'Alla sprovvista' is a fixed feminine phrase.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: 'Perché non hai risposto alla mail?' B: 'Perché la tua richiesta ______.'
The context of not having a response ready fits 'prendere alla sprovvista' perfectly.
Match the situation to the best use of the phrase.
Situazione: Un temporale improvviso mentre sei al mare.
The rain is the subject that surprises the people (us).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Prendere vs. Fare
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenScusa, non volevo ______ alla sprovvista con questa notizia.
You need the object pronoun 'ti' (you) attached to the infinitive 'prendere'.
A) Mi ha preso alla sprovvisto. B) Mi ha preso alla sprovvista. C) Mi ha preso allo sprovvista.
'Alla sprovvista' is a fixed feminine phrase.
A: 'Perché non hai risposto alla mail?' B: 'Perché la tua richiesta ______.'
The context of not having a response ready fits 'prendere alla sprovvista' perfectly.
Situazione: Un temporale improvviso mentre sei al mare.
The rain is the subject that surprises the people (us).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenYes, but it emphasizes the shock/unreadiness rather than the joy. For a purely happy surprise, 'che bella sorpresa' is better.
It is always 'alla' because 'sprovvista' is feminine.
Yes, it means that person surprised you unexpectedly.
'All'improvviso' means 'suddenly' (adverb of time). 'Prendere alla sprovvista' describes the effect on a person.
It's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
Yes, very common: 'La pioggia mi ha preso alla sprovvista'.
Yes, you conjugate it like any normal verb (prendo, prendi, ha preso...).
No, you must use 'essere colto/preso alla sprovvista' or 'trovarsi alla sprovvista'.
Almost never. It's a 'fossil' word that only lives in this expression.
Sono stato preso alla sprovvista.
Yes, 'mi hai spiazzato' (you displaced me) is very common slang.
Yes, 'mi ha preso' is the most common way to use it.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Cogliere di sorpresa
synonymTo catch by surprise
Fare una sorpresa
similarTo give a surprise
All'improvviso
similarSuddenly
Restare di sasso
builds onTo be petrified/stunned
Senza preavviso
similarWithout warning
