Inklingo

How to Say "stranger" in Spanish

English → Spanish

desconocido

des-koh-noh-SEE-doh/des.ko.noˈsi.ðo/

nounB1general
Use 'desconocido' when referring to a person you do not know, emphasizing their anonymity or lack of recognition.
The figure of a person stands alone in a park, wearing a simple dark cloak and hood, their face obscured from view, representing a stranger.

Examples

Un desconocido llamó a la puerta y preguntó por ti.

A stranger knocked on the door and asked for you.

La desconocida dejó un mensaje antes de irse.

The unknown woman left a message before leaving.

Prefiero no hablar con desconocidos en la calle.

I prefer not to talk to strangers on the street.

The Noun Form

When used as a noun, 'desconocido' acts like a person: 'el desconocido' (the male stranger) or 'la desconocida' (the female stranger). You must use the matching article (el/la) and pluralize (los/las desconocidos/as).

extraño

/ex-TRAn-yo//eksˈtɾaɲo/

nounB1general
Use 'extraño' when you want to describe an unknown person, often with a slight implication of them being unusual or out of place, but primarily meaning unknown.
A busy street scene where many people are smiling and interacting, but one figure is completely cloaked and stands apart, their identity unknown.

Examples

Un extraño me preguntó la hora en la calle.

A stranger asked me for the time on the street.

Mamá siempre decía: 'No hables con extraños'.

Mom always used to say: 'Don't talk to strangers'.

extranjero

ehx-trahn-HEH-roh/eks.tɾaŋˈxe.ɾo/

nounA2general
Use 'extranjero' exclusively when referring to a foreigner or someone who is not a citizen of the country you are in.
A cartoon figure wearing a large red backpack and holding a folded map stands on a city street, clearly appearing to be a tourist or visitor.

Examples

El extranjero tuvo que mostrar su visa en la aduana.

The foreigner had to show his visa at customs.

Conocí a una extranjera muy amable en el tren.

I met a very kind foreigner (female) on the train.

Gender Changes for People

When referring to a person, you must change the ending to 'extranjera' for a woman, and 'extranjero' for a man.

Confusing 'Foreign' with 'Strange'

Mistake: “Esa persona es muy extraña.”

Correction: Esa persona es muy extranjera. (If you mean she is from another country. 'Extraña' means strange or weird.)

Confusing 'stranger' with 'foreigner'

Learners often mistakenly use 'extranjero' when they mean any unknown person. Remember, 'extranjero' specifically means 'foreigner' or 'alien,' while 'desconocido' and 'extraño' refer to someone you simply don't know.

Related Translations

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