unbekannt
unknown
Someone or something is not known to a person or group; one knows nothing about it.
EXAMPLE
Die Ursache des Feuers ist bisher unbekannt.
The cause of the fire is still unknown.
unbekannt
unknown
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
unbekannt
unknown
Not famous or widely known to the public.
EXAMPLE
Der Regisseur war damals noch völlig unbekannt.
The director was still completely unknown at the time.
unbekannt verzogen
moved, address unknown
An official note stating that a person no longer lives at the given address and that their new whereabouts cannot be determined.
EXAMPLE
Der Brief kam mit dem Vermerk „Empfänger unbekannt verzogen“ zurück.
The letter came back with the note 'recipient moved, address unknown'.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is made up of the prefix 'un-' and the adjective 'bekannt' (known). The prefix 'un-' means 'not', so 'unbekannt' (unknown) literally means 'not known'.
EXAMPLE
Der Absender des Pakets war unbekannt.
The sender of the package was unknown.
Dative construction
To express who does not know something, German uses a dative construction. The person to whom something is unknown is in the dative case.
EXAMPLE
Diese Telefonnummer ist mir völlig unbekannt.
This phone number is completely unknown to me.
Typical collocations
Common combinations are 'aus unbekannten Gründen' (for unknown reasons), 'ein unbekannter Täter' (an unknown perpetrator), or 'an einem unbekannten Ort' (in/at an unknown place).
EXAMPLE
Das Konzert wurde aus bisher unbekannten Gründen abgesagt.
The concert was canceled for reasons that are still unknown.
Fixed expression
The phrase 'unbekannt verzogen' (moved, address unknown) is a fixed expression from administrative language. You often find it as a stamp or note on letters that could not be delivered.
EXAMPLE
Die Rechnung kam zurück mit dem Vermerk: „Empfänger unbekannt verzogen“.
The invoice came back with the note: 'recipient moved, address unknown'.
Compare with
unbekannt vs neu
new
Information is „neu“ für jemanden when the person has just encountered it or is learning it for the first time. „Unbekannt“ only means that the person has not known anything about it so far. „Neu“ therefore focuses more strongly on the person’s current encounter with the information.
unbekannt
Diese Information ist mir unbekannt, denn bisher hat mir niemand davon erzählt.
This information is unknown to me because no one has told me about it so far.
neu
Diese Information ist neu für mich, denn ich habe sie gerade erst erfahren.
This information is new to me because I’ve only just learned it.
In real life
Loading video examples...