desconocer

Desconocer is a Spanish transitive verb meaning to be unaware of something, to not know it, or to be ignorant about it. It can also mean to fail to recognize or to ignore, disregard, or reject information, truth, or facts. The verb governs a direct object, typically a concept, a fact, or a person (desconocer a alguien means not to know someone).

Origins and forms: Desconocer derives from des- (a negation prefix) and conocer (to know). In modern Spanish it behaves as a regular -er verb in many tenses, with the present yo form desconozco. Typical present forms are: tú desconoces, él/ella/Ud. desconoce, nosotros desconocemos, vosotros desconocéis, ellos/Uds. desconocen. Preterite: desconocí, desconociste, desconoció, desconocimos, desconocisteis, desconocieron. Imperfect: desconocía, desconocías, desconocía, desconocíamos, desconocíais, desconocían. Subjunctive present: desconozca, desconozcas, desconozca, desconozcamos, desconozcáis, desconozcan. Imperative: tú desconoce, usted desconozca, vosotros desconoced, ustedes desconozcan.

Usage notes: Desconocer is commonly used for being unaware of a fact or for not recognizing a person or thing. It can appear with the expression desconocer la existencia de algo. Example: “Desconozco esa noticia” (I am unaware of that news), “desconocer a alguien” (to not know someone). It contrasts with ignorar and no saber, where ignorar can imply deliberate disregard and no saber emphasizes a lack of knowledge. Etymology: des- + conocer.