extraño
Lemma Details
Translation: strange; weird; odd; unusual; foreign; unfamiliar
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: From Latin 'extraneus' meaning 'external, foreign, from outside'. This same Latin root gave English 'extraneous', 'estrange', and 'strange'. The connection between 'foreign' and 'strange' is evident in both languages - what is foreign or from outside one's experience is often perceived as strange or unusual.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'extra' + 'no' - something that's 'extra' or beyond what's normal might make you say 'no' in surprise.
- Sounds like 'estranged' in English, which refers to someone who has become unfamiliar or foreign to you.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, 'extraño' can refer both to something unusual and to something foreign. The word carries less negative connotation than sometimes exists in English with 'strange' - it's often simply descriptive rather than judgmental.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Extraño' is an adjective meaning 'strange' or 'weird', while 'extrañar' is a verb meaning 'to miss' or 'to long for'.
Confused word:
Extraño mucho a mi familia.
I miss my family a lot.
Notes: Note that 'extraño' can also be the first-person singular present form of the verb 'extrañar', as in 'Yo extraño a mi familia' (I miss my family).
Mnemonic: Remember: 'extraño' (with tilde on the n) as adjective describes something, while 'extrañar' (with -ar ending) is something you do.
Explanation: While both come from the same Latin root, 'extraño' means 'strange/weird' while 'extranjero' specifically means 'foreign' or 'foreigner'.
Notes: Both words share the concept of 'otherness' but with different applications.
Mnemonic: Think of 'extranjero' as having 'extra' letters (-njero) compared to 'extraño', making it specifically about people from other countries.