The exact spelling appears at position 2,744 in the cited OpenSubtitles-derived Dutch 50k token list. That is a corpus signal, not search volume, CEFR level or proof that the noun sense is equally frequent. Article, forms, glosses, pronunciation and examples are adapted from English Wiktionary via Kaikki under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources and modifications.
How onbekende is pronounced
No IPA value is reproduced for this entry. Check a current native-speaker recording before copying the pronunciation.
Say the article and noun together—de onbekende—before practising the word in a sentence. This keeps grammatical gender attached to the item you retrieve. Regional speech and sentence rhythm can change the surface sound, so use the transcription as a compact reference rather than as a substitute for listening.
What onbekende means
stranger, non-acquaintance, someone neither known nor trusted to the person of reference
Dictionary label: masculine
The unknown, what one is not familiar with
Dictionary label: masculine
An English gloss identifies a sense, not a one-word substitution that works in every context. Look at the surrounding verb, preposition, number and situation in the Dutch example. When several meanings are listed, practise one meaning at a time and state a concrete context before changing to another sense.
Article, plural and diminutive
| Form | Dutch | Speaking use |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | de onbekende | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de onbekenden | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
| Diminutive | onbekendetje | A smaller, familiar or context-specific form; use only when the meaning fits. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn de onbekende as a single unit, then contrast it with de onbekenden. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with onbekende
Het onbekende lijkt vaak boeiender maar gevaarlijker
The unknown often seems more interesting but riskier
These examples are citation-backed language data. First identify what the noun refers to and which words determine or describe it. Then change only one element—person, quantity, time, place or description—while keeping the article and number consistent. That small variation turns a reference example into active speaking practice without inventing a rule from one sentence.
Four-step speaking drill
- Say de onbekende three times, then add one adjective or location that fits the first meaning.
- Build a present-tense sentence with a named person, a concrete place and the singular noun.
- Change the message to de onbekenden. Update the number, determiner and finite verb instead of replacing only the noun ending.
- Ask a follow-up question containing the noun, record the answer, and repeat once with a different detail.
Listen first for meaning and article choice, then for sentence order and pronunciation. Correct the first error that changes the message or blocks the listener. Avoid restarting for every small hesitation: complete the message, note one target, and make the second recording more precise.
Self-check before you continue
- I retrieve de onbekende as one chunk.
- The singular or plural matches the determiner, quantity and verb.
- The selected meaning fits the situation.
- The sentence includes enough detail for another person to understand the reference.
- I can ask and answer one question with the noun without reading the page.
Questions about onbekende
What does onbekende mean?
stranger, non-acquaintance, someone neither known nor trusted to the person of reference; The unknown, what one is not familiar with.
Is it de onbekende or het onbekende?
The cited entry uses de onbekende. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of onbekende?
The cited plural is onbekenden. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use onbekende in a recorded response
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