German word

unbekannt

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʊnbəkant/

Meaning

  • adjectiveunfamiliar

Example

Ich kenne diese unbekannte Person nicht.

I don't know this person; they're a stranger to me.

Illustration for unbekannt (unfamiliar)

More examples

Sein Name ist mir unbekannt.

His name is unknown to me.

Core concept

A person or thing stands outside a circle of recognition, with no familiar face or identifying label.

Common phrases

  • jemandem unbekannt sein

    be unknown to someone

  • als unbekannt gelten

    be considered unknown

Similar words

fremd: Unfamiliar because of foreignness, difference, or distance from familiar surroundings.
anonym: With no name or identity revealed, making the person or thing impossible to identify.
unvertraut: Not familiar because there has been too little practice or experience.

Definition in German

Nicht bekannt; etwas oder jemand, den man nicht kennt.

Word origin

The adjective combines the Germanic negative prefix "un-" with "bekannt", a form related to "kennen" and English "know".

Usage tips

  • As a noun, "der Unbekannte" means an unknown man or person, while "die Unbekannte" refers to an unknown woman or person.

Other meanings

  • unidentifiedadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • das Unbekanntethe unknownnoun

Word lists with this word