extraño
/ex-TRAn-yo/
📝 In Action
Vi algo extraño en el cielo anoche.
A2I saw something strange in the sky last night.
Es un comportamiento muy extraño para un perro.
B1It's very weird behavior for a dog.
Me siento un poco extraño hoy, como si fuera a enfermar.
B1I feel a bit strange today, as if I'm going to get sick.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
Like most describing words in Spanish, 'extraño' changes to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'extraña' for feminine things (una casa extraña), 'extraños' for masculine plural (unos ruidos extraños), and 'extrañas' for feminine plural (unas luces extrañas).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using with 'Ser' vs. 'Estar'
Mistake: "'Soy extraño' vs. 'Estoy extraño'"
Correction: Use 'ser' for permanent traits ('Él es un hombre extraño' - He's a strange man). Use 'estar' for temporary states or feelings ('El café está extraño hoy' - The coffee tastes strange today; 'Me siento/estoy extraño' - I feel strange).
⭐ Usage Tips
Strange vs. Foreign
While 'extraño' can mean 'foreign', it's much more common to use 'extranjero' when talking about someone from another country. 'Extraño' is mostly used to mean 'weird' or 'unusual'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: extraño
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'I miss my city'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'extraño' and 'raro'?
They are very similar and often interchangeable for 'strange' or 'weird'. 'Raro' can sometimes also mean 'rare' or 'infrequent', while 'extraño' is almost always about being unusual or odd. In everyday conversation, you can use either one to say something is weird.
Why is 'extraño' the verb for 'I miss'? It seems... strange.
It's a great question! The idea comes from Latin. To miss someone is to feel that they are 'external' or 'foreign' to your current situation. They are no longer with you. So, you 'extrañas' them—you feel their externalness. It's a bit poetic!
Do I say 'Yo extraño' or just 'Extraño'?
You can say either! In Spanish, the verb ending '-o' already tells everyone that 'I' am the one doing the action. So, saying 'yo' is optional and is usually for emphasis, like 'I'm the one who misses you (not someone else).'