ignoto

unknown person; the unknown

noun adjective ee-NYOH-toh Less Common

Origin: Latin 'ignotus,' from 'in-' (not) + 'notus' (known).

Usage Note

Ignoto as a noun means 'an unknown person' (un ignoto = an unidentified individual, often in police reports) or 'the unknown' (il grande ignoto = the great unknown). As an adjective it means 'unknown, unidentified.' It is more formal and literary than sconosciuto, which is the everyday word for 'unknown' or 'stranger.'

Examples

"Il quadro fu dipinto da un ignoto."

Natural Translation

The painting was done by an unknown person.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

C'è vs Ci Sono: There Is/Are in Italian

C'è for one thing, ci sono for many — that's the rule. Master Italian's there is/there are with c'era, ci sarà, è vs c'è, and non c'è nessuno.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Restaurant Etiquette: Mistakes to Avoid

Skip the cappuccino after dinner, never put parmesan on fish, and learn the exact Italian phrases to order gracefully and avoid looking like a tourist.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Diminutives: -ino, -etto, -one Explained

Italian diminutives like -ino, -etto, and -one signal size, affection, or contempt. Learn to read the feeling, dodge gender flips, and spot false diminutives.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

You're Welcome in Italian: 8 Ways Beyond Prego

You're welcome in Italian is more than prego: say figurati to friends, si figuri to strangers, di niente, non c'è di che, or grazie a te. Pick the right one.

June 9, 2026 6 min read