Spanish · People & Family
"Stranger" in Spanish: desconocido / desconocida
el desconocido / la desconocida
A stranger is el desconocido or la desconocida (des-koh-noh-SEE-doh / -dah). Match the ending to gender. It means someone you do not know.
Street caution
No abras la puerta a un desconocido.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce desconocido / desconocida
Say it
des-koh-noh-SEE-doh
/des.ko.noˈsi.ðo/
Say des-koh-noh-SEE-doh. Stress SEE. Keep each syllable even.
"Stranger" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el desconocido | stranger (male) Masculine singular. | Masculine singular. |
| la desconocida | stranger (female) Feminine singular. | Feminine singular. |
| un desconocido | a stranger Indefinite. | Indefinite. |
| no hables con desconocidos | don't talk to strangers Common safety advice. | Common safety advice. |
How to use desconocido / desconocida in real life
- 1Street caution
No abras la puerta a un desconocido.
Don't open the door to a stranger.
Safety tip with desconocido.
- 2At a party
Había una desconocida en la entrada.
There was a stranger at the entrance.
Desconocida for a woman.
- 3Lost item
Un desconocido devolvió mi cartera.
A stranger returned my wallet.
Kind act by a desconocido.
Mistakes English speakers make with desconocido / desconocida
Incorrect: Ella es un desconocido.
Correct: Ella es una desconocida.
Use desconocida for a woman. Desconocido is masculine.
Incorrect: No hables con strangers.
Correct: No hables con desconocidos.
Say desconocidos in Spanish.
Good to know
Desconocido is the everyday Latin American word for someone unknown. Extraño often means odd, not stranger.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Waiting for a delivery
ChatPal
¿Viste a un desconocido en el pasillo?
Did you see a stranger in the hallway?
You
Sí. El desconocido preguntó por el departamento 4.
Yes. The stranger asked for apartment 4.
ChatPal
Gracias. Voy a avisar al portero.
Thanks. I'll tell the doorman.
You
Bien. Yo cierro la puerta.
Good. I'll close the door.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Stranger" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Stranger" in Spanish
How do gender forms work?
El desconocido for a man, la desconocida for a woman.
Is extraño the same as desconocido?
Extraño often means odd. Desconocido is clearer for stranger.
How do I say don't talk to strangers?
No hables con desconocidos.
How do I say a stranger?
Un desconocido or una desconocida.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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