unfamiliar

Unfamiliar means not knowing or recognizing someone, place, thing, or situation. You might feel unfamiliar with a new city when you first arrive.

When we talk about something being unfamiliar, it usually means that we don't know much about it, or haven't seen it before. We often use this word in conversations where someone is describing a new experience they've had, like trying food from another culture. They might say "I found the flavors really unfamiliar" to mean that they weren't used to eating something with such strong tastes. Even if we're traveling and seeing many new things, some places can still feel unfamiliar at first, especially in big cities or countries far away from home.