Definition
Without knowing something is happening; by surprise or without being prepared.
Etymology
From 'un-' (not) combined with 'aware' (knowing). The '-es' ending is archaic/dialectal and appears in other adverbs like 'nowadays' and 'always.'
Kelly Says
The phrase 'caught unawares' comes from an older meaning of 'aware' that meant 'on guard'—so being 'unaware' originally didn't just mean ignorant, but specifically unprepared for danger!
Translations
CACatalà
sense adonar-se
sɛnsə ðonar sɛ
CSČeština
nepozorovaně
nɛpɔzɔrɔvanɛ
DEDeutsch
ungesehen
ʊnɡeˈzeːn
ELΕλληνικά
απρόσμενα
aprosmena
ESEspañol
desapercibido
desaperˈsiβiðo
FISuomi
tietämättä
tietæmætæ
FRFrançais
à l'improviste
a lɪmpʁɔvist
HUMagyar
észrevétlenül
eːsreveteːlyl
IDBahasa Indonesia
tanpa disadari
tanpa disadari
IGIG
enweghị uche
enweɣi uche
ITItaliano
all'insaputa
allinsaˈpuːta
KKKK
бейімдеусіз
bejimdeusiz
MSBahasa Melayu
tanpa disedari
tanpa disedari
NLNederlands
onverwacht
ɔnˈvɛrʋɑxt
PLPolski
niespodzianie
ɲɛspɔˈdʑanʲɛ
PTPortuguês
desapercebido
dezaperseˈbiðu
RORomână
fără să știe
fərə sɑ ʃtie
RUРусский
неподготовленный
nʲɪpɐdɡɐtɐvʲɪlɨj
SVSvenska
oavsiktligt
oavsiktliɡt
SWKiswahili
bila kujua
bila kudʒua
TLTL
hindi inaalam
hindi inaalam
TRTürkçe
farkında olmadan
fɑɾkɯnda ɔlmadan
UKУкраїнська
непідготовлений
nʲepidɡotɔvlenyj
VITiếng Việt
không biết
kʰɔŋ biet