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Unwissen
/ˈʔʊnˌvɪsn̩/
ignorance
Sein Unwissen über die Gesetze war offensichtlich.
His ignorance of the laws was obvious.
neutral
Lack of knowledge or awareness about a particular subject.
Durch sein Unwissen verursachte er einen teuren Fehler.
Due to his ignorance, he caused an expensive mistake.
Das Unwissen der Bevölkerung über Hygienemaßnahmen war besorgniserregend.
The public's ignorance about hygiene measures was alarming.
Often used in contexts where a person's lack of knowledge leads to negative consequences.
Collocations
Unwissen entschuldigento excuse ignoranceaus Unwissen handelnto act out of ignorance
Pro Tip
Avoiding confusion with 'Unwissenheit'
'Unwissen' and 'Unwissenheit' are often used similarly, but 'Unwissenheit' can sound more formal or abstract. Prefer 'Unwissen' in casual speech and 'Unwissenheit' in written or formal contexts.
Word Origin
From Middle High German *unwizzen*, from Old High German *unwizzen* ("not to know"), from *un-* (prefix indicating negation) + *wizzen* ("to know"). Cognate with Old English *unwitan* and Dutch *onwetendheid*.
Usage Notes
Unwissen is a noun referring to the state of not knowing something, while 'Unwissenheit' emphasizes the quality or condition of being uninformed. Both can often be used interchangeably in everyday language.
Word Breakdown
un-
prefix indicating negation
prefixwissen
to know
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