desconhecidas

Desconhecidas is the feminine plural form of the adjective desconhecido, meaning unknown or unfamiliar. In Portuguese, it can function as an adjective to describe feminine nouns in the plural, such as “mulheres desconhecidas” (unknown women). It may also be used as a feminine plural noun to refer to unknown people or things, particularly in literary, journalistic, or investigative contexts. The term carries a sense of anonymity or lack of knowledge about the subjects it describes.

Etymologically, desconhecido is formed from the prefix des- (indicating negation) and conhecer (to know). The participial form acquires the feminine plural ending -as to agree with feminine plural nouns. This pattern reflects standard Portuguese morphology, where adjectives and related forms agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify or replace.

Usage notes include its role in formal and informal language. It often conveys a deliberate withholding of identity or specifics, and can introduce a discussion of unknown entities, whether people, places, or phenomena. In prose and journalism, desconhecidas can foreground mystery, lack of information, or the need for further inquiry. It is less common as a standalone noun in everyday speech, more typical when used with articles or as part of a larger noun phrase, as in “as desconhecidas” or “desconhecidas são as circunstâncias.”

In cultural contexts, the term may appear as a motif or title element in works that explore anonymity, discovery, or the unseen, across literature, film, or music, reflecting the intrigue around what remains unidentified.

See also: desconhecido, desconhecidos.