What is flabbergasted? Pronunciation and usage in English

flabbergasted means . Learn how to pronounce and use flabbergasted through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of flabbergasted

flabbergastedadjective

/ˈflæbəɡɑːstɪd//ˈflæbərɡæstɪd/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "flabbergasted." It's a tricky one! Here's a breakdown with phonetic approximations and tips:

Phonetic Transcription (IPA - International Phonetic Alphabet):

/fləˈbɜːrˌɡæstɪd/

Breakdown and Pronunciation Guide:

  • flə: This is like "flah" but with a very short, almost swallowed 'a' sound. Think of saying "flah" but removing a bit of the length and rounding your lips slightly. It’s a schwa sound (ə).

  • ˈbɜːr: This is the stressed syllable.

    • bɜː: Pronounce this like "bur" – a short, clear "b" sound followed by a long "a" as in "father."
    • r: Make sure you include a slight "r" sound at the end, but don’t overemphasize it.

  • ˌɡæstɪd: This is the second syllable.

    • ɡæst: Pronounce this like "gast" – a quick, light "g" followed by the "a" from "flə" (schwa).
    • ɪd: This is like "id" – a short, quick “i” sound.

Putting it all together (roughly):

“Flah-bur-GAHST-id”

Tips for Success:

  • Stress: The emphasis is on the second syllable: /ˈbɜːrˌɡæstɪd/. You want to make the "bur" part noticeably louder and longer.

  • Schwa Sound: The “flə” part uses the schwa sound (ə), which is a very common, relaxed vowel sound in English. It’s not a clear "ah" sound like you might expect.

  • Don't over-articulate: "Flabbergasted" is a long word. It’s easy to over-pronounce it. Try to say it smoothly and naturally, not deliberately forcing each sound.

  • Listen to examples: The best way to learn is to hear it pronounced correctly. Here are some resources:

    • Google Search: Search for "how to pronounce flabbergasted" on YouTube – you'll find many audio and video examples.
    • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/flabbergasted/ – This website has pronunciations by native speakers.

Would you like me to:

  • Pronounce it slowly for you?
  • Focus on a specific part of the word?

Usage and examples with the word flabbergasted in English

Let's break down how to use the word "flabbergasted." It's a wonderfully expressive word, but it's a bit more specific than simply "surprised."

What does "Flabbergasted" mean?

"Flabbergasted" means utterly astonished or bewildered; completely surprised and often in a way that leaves you speechless. It suggests a feeling of being knocked back by something unexpected and difficult to process. It implies a sense of disorientation and disbelief.

Here's how to use it in sentences, with examples:

1. Describing Extreme Surprise:

  • "I was completely flabbergasted when I won the lottery!" (This is a classic example – a huge surprise that's hard to believe.)
  • "She was flabbergasted by his sudden announcement of marriage." (A surprising event that leaves her stunned.)
  • "The news of the discovery sent the entire team into a state of flabbergasted silence." (A dramatic, unexpected revelation.)

2. Showing a Lack of Reaction (Often a good thing!):

  • "He stared at the email, utterly flabbergasted, unable to form a response." (He’s so surprised he can't even speak.)
  • "The witness was flabbergasted by the lawyer's unexpected line of questioning." (The lawyer threw him off guard so much he was speechless.)

3. Adding Emphasis to Your Disbelief:

  • "I was completely flabbergasted to see a penguin on a beach in Florida!" (Using “completely” emphasizes the extent of your surprise.)
  • “Flabbergasted doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt when I heard the news.” (This shows you’re using the word to express a feeling that's even stronger than just surprise.)

Key Characteristics to Capture the Feeling:

  • Speechlessness: Often, flabbergasted people can’t speak or process what's happening.
  • Disbelief: There's a strong element of “I can’t believe this is happening!”
  • Bewilderment: You’re often confused and don’t know what to think.
  • Strong Emotion: It’s a more intense reaction than simply being "surprised."

Synonyms (Words with similar meanings):

  • Astonished
  • Dumbfounded
  • Stunned
  • Shocked
  • Bewildered
  • Speechless

Important Note: "Flabbergasted" is a somewhat formal word. While it's perfectly acceptable to use it, you might find that simpler words like "astonished" or "shocked" fit better in some contexts.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you thinking of using "flabbergasted" in? (e.g., writing a story, a formal essay, casual conversation?)

Synonyms for the word flabbergasted

Practice with vocabulary flabbergasted

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The unexpected acquisition of their largest competitor left the entire executive team feeling completely ___________ during the quarterly briefing.
  2. Despite countless hours of research, the scientists remained ___________ by the anomalous data patterns that defied all known physical laws.
  3. When the relatively junior colleague presented a groundbreaking solution that no one else had considered, the senior partners were utterly ___________.
  4. The sheer volume of new regulations introduced without prior consultation left the compliance department feeling incredibly ___________, struggling to process everything at once.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The sudden resignation of the CEO, effective immediately, left the board members feeling utterly ___________. A. calm B. flabbergasted C. prepared D. unconcerned

  2. Upon discovering that their long-lost patent application had been approved, the inventors were completely ___________. A. indifferent B. astonished C. flabbergasted D. bewildered

  3. The incredibly detailed and innovative proposal from the start-up left the venture capitalists feeling nothing short of ___________. A. bored B. indifferent C. flabbergasted D. unmoved

  4. The complex technical specifications in the new project brief left several team members feeling entirely ___________. A. enlightened B. perplexed C. confident D. satisfied

  5. After meticulously analyzing the vast dataset for weeks, the data scientist felt utterly ___________ by the immense amount of information and its implications. A. underwhelmed B. overwhelmed C. overjoyed D. relaxed

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: Everyone was extremely surprised when the company announced a sudden, unexpected merger with its biggest rival. Rewrite: (Use a form of "flabbergasted")

  2. Original: Her unexpected promotion to director of operations left her utterly speechless with shock and amazement. Rewrite: (Use "flabbergasted")

  3. Original: The intricate details of the ancient blueprint made it very difficult to understand for the engineers, causing significant delays. Rewrite: (Do not use "flabbergasted")

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. flabbergasted
  2. perplexed
  3. flabbergasted
  4. overwhelmed

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. B. flabbergasted
  2. B. astonished, C. flabbergasted
  3. C. flabbergasted
  4. B. perplexed
  5. B. overwhelmed

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The entire staff was flabbergasted when the company announced a sudden, unexpected merger with its biggest rival.
  2. She was flabbergasted by her unexpected promotion to director of operations.
  3. The intricate details of the ancient blueprint were perplexing for the engineers, causing significant delays.

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