Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Strange in Spanish: Extraño
Extraño · adjective · ehks-TRAH-nyoh
Extraño is the primary Spanish adjective meaning strange, odd, or unfamiliar. It also functions as a verb meaning 'to miss someone' (extrañar), which can confuse learners encountering it in different contexts. Raro is a near-perfect synonym in casual speech, while peculiar serves as a more elevated alternative.
Three syllables: ehks-TRAH-nyoh, with stress on the second syllable. The 'ñ' produces the 'ny' sound as in 'canyon.'
Escuché un ruido extraño en el ático a medianoche.
I heard a strange noise in the attic at midnight.
strange in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for strange, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| extraño | strange | ehks-TRAH-nyoh | Default, widely understood |
| raro | strange | very common, slightly more casual | |
| peculiar | strange | cognate used in formal or literary contexts |
How Native Speakers Use Extraño
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
unusual occurrence
Es extraño que no haya contestado el teléfono en todo el día.
It's strange that she hasn't answered the phone all day.
Extraño works for situations that feel off or unexpected.
weird behavior
El gato se está comportando muy raro desde que llegó el perro nuevo.
The cat has been acting very strange since the new dog arrived.
Raro is casual and extremely common.
mysterious
Había una luz peculiar brillando desde el sótano abandonado.
There was a strange light shining from the abandoned basement.
Peculiar adds a literary or mysterious tone.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Extraño
extraño as verb vs adjective
Incorrect: Extraño mucho este lugar. — This place is very strange.
Correct: Extraño mucho este lugar. — I miss this place a lot.
When extraño appears as a first-person verb (yo extraño), it means 'I miss,' not 'I am strange' — the adjective form requires es extraño or a noun it modifies.
estrangero confusion
Incorrect: Esa costumbre es muy extranjera.
Correct: Esa costumbre es muy extraña.
Extranjera means 'foreign' (from another country), while extraña means 'strange' or 'odd.' A custom can be foreign without being strange, and vice versa.
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See Extraño used by native speakers
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Common Questions About strange in Spanish
- What is the difference between extraño and raro?
- Extraño and raro are nearly interchangeable in meaning 'strange,' but raro is slightly more casual and common in everyday speech. Extraño can feel more literary or thoughtful, while raro is the quick, informal choice for anything odd or unusual.
- Can extraño mean both 'strange' and 'I miss'?
- The word extraño functions as both an adjective (strange) and the first-person present of the verb extrañar (to miss). Context makes the difference clear: 'es extraño' = it's strange, 'te extraño' = I miss you.
- How do I say 'stranger' as in an unknown person?
- An unknown person is un desconocido or un extraño used as a noun. 'Don't talk to strangers' translates as 'No hables con desconocidos' or 'No hables con extraños,' both of which are commonly used.