sobresaltan

Sobresaltan is a Spanish verb that translates to "to startle," "to startle someone," or "to surprise." It is derived from the verb "saltar," meaning "to jump," with the prefix "sobre-" adding the sense of something happening suddenly or unexpectedly. The verb is commonly used to describe a sudden, involuntary reaction to a surprising or frightening stimulus.

The term can refer to both physical and emotional responses. A sudden noise might "sobresaltan" someone, causing them to jump. Similarly, unexpected news or a surprising event can "sobresaltan" an individual emotionally, leading to a feeling of shock or apprehension. The conjugation of "sobresaltan" follows the regular pattern for -ar verbs in Spanish, with variations depending on the subject and tense. For instance, "él sobresalta" means "he startles," while "ellos sobresaltaron" means "they startled." It is a relatively common verb in everyday Spanish conversation and literature, used to convey a sense of abruptness and surprise.