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desconocidos

des-koh-noh-SEE-dohs/deskonoˈsiðos/

“desconocidos” means “strangers” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

strangers

Also: unknown people
NounmA2
A small group of people walking past each other on a sidewalk, their faces turned away, illustrating people who are not acquainted.

📝 In Action

No debes hablar con desconocidos en la calle.

A1

You shouldn't talk to strangers on the street.

La fiesta estaba llena de desconocidos.

A2

The party was full of strangers.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • extraños (strangers/outsiders)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • perfectos desconocidos – total strangers
  • un grupo de desconocidos – a group of strangers

unknown

Also: unfamiliar, obscure
A mysterious gift box wrapped in plain brown paper with a large question mark on the side, sitting alone on a wooden table.

📝 In Action

Exploraron territorios desconocidos por meses.

B1

They explored unknown territories for months.

Sus motivos son desconocidos para nosotros.

B2

Their motives are unknown to us.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ignotos (undiscovered/unknown)
  • anónimos (anonymous)

Antonyms

  • famosos (famous)
  • célebres (celebrated/well-known)

Common Collocations

  • datos desconocidos – unknown data
  • autores desconocidos – unknown authors

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "desconocidos" in Spanish:

obscure→strangers→unknown people→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: desconocidos

Question 1 of 2

If you go to a new city where you don't have any friends, the people there are...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
hervidossentidosolvidados
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the prefix 'des-' (not) and the word 'conocidos' (known). The root is the Latin word 'cognoscere', which means 'to get to know'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: inconnusPortuguese: desconhecidos

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'desconocidos' only for men?

In Spanish, the masculine plural form is used for groups of men or mixed groups of men and women. If you are talking about a group that consists only of women, you should use 'desconocidas'.

What is the difference between 'extraños' and 'desconocidos'?

'Desconocidos' literally means you don't know them. 'Extraños' can mean 'strangers,' but it often carries the extra meaning of being 'weird' or 'strange.'