Ongewone

Ongewone is a Dutch adjective meaning not ordinary; unusual, remarkable, or atypical. The word is formed by adding the negating prefix on- to gewone, the standard word for ordinary. It is used to describe things that deviate from what is typical or expected, from events and phenomena to people and ideas.

Usage spans everyday language, journalism, and scientific writing. It can describe neutral observations or carry a positive or negative evaluative tone depending on context. In sentences, it often appears before the noun: een ongewone gebeurtenis; or after a definite article: de ongewone gebeurtenis.

Related Dutch terms include ongewoon and buitengewoon. Although similar, ongewoon is frequently used interchangeably with ongewone, while buitengewoon carries a stronger sense of exceptional or extraordinary. Other synonyms that express rarity or deviation include zeldzaam and ongebruikelijk.

Examples of use: een ongewone ontmoeting die tot een nieuw inzicht leidt; ongewone weersomstandigheden; een ongewone carrièrekeuze. The term remains common in media and written Dutch when describing anomalies, surprises, or things that stand out from the ordinary.