How to Say "unknown" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “unknown” is “desconocido” — use 'desconocido' when referring to something or someone that is not familiar, recognized, or known by people in general.
desconocido
des-koh-noh-SEE-dohdes.ko.noˈsi.ðo
Examples
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.)
interrogante
een-teh-rro-GAHN-tehinteroˈɡante
Examples
El motivo del crimen sigue siendo un gran interrogante para la policía.
The motive for the crime remains a big question for the police.
En español, debes usar un interrogante al principio y otro al final.
In Spanish, you must use one question mark at the beginning and another at the end.
Hay muchos interrogantes sobre el nuevo plan económico del gobierno.
There are many questions regarding the government's new economic plan.
Masculine vs. Feminine
When talking about a doubt or a mystery, this word is usually masculine ('el interrogante'). While some regions use it as feminine, sticking to masculine is the safest and most common choice.
Double Punctuation
Unlike English, which only uses '?' at the end, Spanish uses two symbols: the upside-down '¿' (interrogante de apertura) to start and '?' (interrogante de cierre) to finish.
Interrogante vs. Pregunta
Mistake: “Using 'interrogante' for a simple question like 'What time is it?'.”
Correction: Use 'pregunta' for everyday inquiries. Use 'interrogante' for bigger mysteries, doubts, or the literal symbol.
Adjective vs. Noun Usage
Related Translations
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