Spanish word

desconocido

Pronunciation

IPA/deskonoˈθiðo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounstranger

Example

Vi a un desconocido en la estación.

I saw a stranger at the station.

Illustration for desconocido (stranger)

More examples

Le pedí direcciones a un desconocido.

I asked a stranger for directions.

Core concept

A stranger whose identity is not known.

Common phrases

  • un desconocido

    a stranger

  • pedir ayuda a un desconocido

    ask a stranger for help

  • confiar en un desconocido

    trust a stranger

Similar words

extraño: Person not previously met and visually unfamiliar.

Definition in Spanish

Persona que no se conoce personalmente; la palabra se usa tanto como sustantivo como adjetivo.

Word origin

Built from des- 'not' plus conocido, the past participle of conocer, literally 'not known' and used as either noun or adjective.

Usage tips

  • As an adjective it agrees in gender and number (una desconocida, unos desconocidos), and a common collocation is número desconocido for unknown callers.

Other meanings

  • unknownadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • desconocernot knowverb
  • desconocimientoignorancenoun

Word lists with this word