Inklingo

How to Say "stranger" in Spanish

English → Spanish

desconocido

des-koh-noh-SEE-dohdes.ko.noˈsi.ðo

nounB1general
Use this when referring to a person who is completely unknown to you, emphasizing their anonymity.
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

nounB1general
Use this for a person who is unknown or unfamiliar, often implying a slight sense of peculiarity or unexpectedness.

Examples

Un extraño me preguntó la hora en la calle.

A stranger asked me for the time on the street.

forastero

fo-ras-TEH-rofoɾasˈteɾo

nounB1general
Use this to describe someone who is not from the immediate town, village, or local area.
A traveler with a backpack and a wide-brimmed hat standing in a quaint village square, looking at the houses.

Examples

En este pueblo pequeño, todos saben quién es el forastero.

In this small town, everyone knows who the stranger is.

El forastero pidió una habitación en la posada.

The outsider asked for a room at the inn.

No solemos ver a muchos forasteros por estos caminos.

We don't usually see many newcomers on these roads.

Describing People

This word is a 'naming word' (noun) that points to a man. If you want to talk about a woman, you change the 'o' to an 'a' (forastera).

Town vs. Country

Use this word when someone is from a different town or region, not necessarily a different country.

Forastero vs. Extranjero

Mistake: “Using 'extranjero' to describe someone from the next village over.”

Correction: Use 'forastero' for someone from another town; 'extranjero' is strictly for someone from another country.

extranjero

ehx-trahn-HEH-roheks.tɾaŋˈxe.ɾo

nounA2general
Primarily used to mean 'foreigner' or someone from another country, but can occasionally imply an outsider in a broader sense.
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.)

Desconocido vs. Extraño

Learners often confuse 'desconocido' and 'extraño'. While both mean 'unknown person,' 'desconocido' is more neutral and common for any stranger. 'Extraño' can sometimes imply a slightly odd or out-of-place person, though often they are interchangeable.

Related Translations

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