desconocido
/deskonoˈθido/masculine
The Spanish word for stranger is desconocido. Wiktionary also lists extraño.
Meaning: person whom one does not know (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| desconocido | /deskonoˈθido/ /deskonoˈsido/ |
masculine |
| extraño | /e(ɡ)sˈtɾaɲo/ | masculine |
Both extraño and desconocido can be translated as stranger, but they carry different nuances regarding how the person is perceived.
Which one should you use?
desconocido is the standard, neutral term for a person whom one does not know. While extraño can mean a stranger, it often carries the connotation of someone being 'strange' or 'weird', implying the person feels out of place or odd.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine forms are extraño and desconocido. To refer to a female stranger, use the feminine forms extraña and desconocida.
How do you pronounce it?
/deskonoˈθido/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use extraño to mean 'stranger' in a social sense, but in many Spanish-speaking contexts, this sounds more like you are calling the person 'weird'.
Did you know?
- In legal or formal Spanish, terceros is often used to refer to 'third parties' or 'strangers' to a contract.
- In English, 'extraneous' usually refers to something irrelevant, but its Spanish relative extraño can actually describe a person who is a stranger.
- The word desconocido is built directly from the verb desconocer, which literally means 'to not know' or 'to fail to recognize'.
Examples in context
- Tom es un extraño aquí.Tom is a stranger here.This sentence is useful for showing someone being a stranger in a specific location using extraño.Tatoeba #1306107 by marcelostockle, translation #1025144 by CK
- El perro ladró al extraño.The dog barked at the stranger.This sentence shows a dog reacting to an extraño.Tatoeba #623471 by Leono, translation #48253 by CK
- Él era un completo extraño.He was an utter stranger.This sentence uses extraño to describe an utter stranger.Tatoeba #5962713 by albrusgher, translation #292896 by CM
- Encantado/a de conocerle, soy un desconocido total en esta ciudad.Nice to meet you, I'm a complete stranger in this city.
- Lamento interrumpir, pero esta persona desconocida se ha dejado las llaves en la puerta.I'm sorry to interrupt, but this stranger left their keys in the door.
- ¡Cuidado con ese desconocido! No sabes quién es.Be careful with that stranger! You don't know who they are.
- 57 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are talking about a mysterious man they saw.
- DanielVi a un desconocido en el jardín.I saw a stranger in the garden.
- Elena¿Estás seguro de que era un desconocido?Are you sure it was a stranger?
- DanielSí, nunca he visto a ese desconocido.Yes, I have never seen that stranger.
- ElenaQuizás sea un vecino nuevo, Daniel.Maybe he is a new neighbor, Daniel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stranger” translations and entries desconocido, extraño, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries desconocido, extraño, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
