How to Say "unheard of" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “unheard of” is “desconocido” — use 'desconocido' when referring to something or someone that is completely unknown or unfamiliar, like a place or a person.
desconocido
des-koh-noh-SEE-dohdes.ko.noˈsi.ðo
Examples
Visitamos un rincón desconocido del país.
We visited an unknown corner of the country.
Fuimos a una playa completamente desconocida.
We went to a completely unknown beach.
El origen de la señal sigue siendo desconocido.
The origin of the signal continues to be unknown.
Ella exploró tierras desconocidas en el mapa.
She explored unfamiliar lands on the map.
Making it Match
Like most Spanish adjectives, 'desconocido' must change its ending to match the noun it describes: use '-a' for feminine nouns (la casa desconocida), '-os' for masculine plural nouns, and '-as' for feminine plural nouns.
Forgetting Agreement
Mistake: “Vi una persona desconocido.”
Correction: Vi una persona desconocida. (Since 'persona' is a feminine noun, the adjective must end in -a.)
insólito
in-SOH-lee-tohinˈsolito
Examples
El descubrimiento de la cura fue un evento insólito.
The discovery of the cure was an unheard-of event.
Es un clima insólito para esta época del año.
It's unusual weather for this time of year.
Me parece insólito que todavía no hayan terminado el puente.
It seems unheard of to me that they haven't finished the bridge yet.
La película tuvo un éxito insólito en todo el mundo.
The movie had an extraordinary success all over the world.
Matching Gender and Number
Like most adjectives ending in '-o,' you must change the ending to match what you are describing. Use 'insólito' for masculine things (un caso insólito) and 'insólita' for feminine things (una noticia insólita).
Word Order for Emphasis
While you can place this word before or after a noun, placing it after (un suceso insólito) is more common and makes the description sound objective and clear.
Don't confuse with 'insulting'
Mistake: “Using 'insólito' to mean someone was rude.”
Correction: Use 'insolente' for a person who is rude. 'Insólito' only means that something is rare or surprising.
Unknown vs. Unprecedented
Related Translations
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