sconosciuta

Sconosciuta is the feminine singular form of the Italian adjective sconosciuto, meaning unknown or unfamiliar. It functions as an adjective that agrees with feminine nouns, and it can also be used as a noun phrase to refer to a person whose identity is not known, for example una sconosciuta (an unknown woman) or una sconosciuta persona. The masculine form is sconosciuto; together with definite or indefinite articles it forms common expressions in news reports, fiction, or everyday speech to denote someone whose name is not known.

Etymology: Sconosciuta derives from the verb sconoscere (to fail to know), with the prefix s- attached to conoscere (to know). The sense is "not known" or "not yet known."

Cultural usage: The term appears in everyday language and in titles. In Italian cinema, La sconosciuta (2006) is a notable film directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, whose title translates to The Unknown Woman in English. In literature and journalism, sconosciuta or una sconosciuta may introduce characters or refer to unidentified individuals in reports.

See also: sconosciuto.