untel

so-and-so

noun un-TEL Rare

Also means

a certain person

Usage Note

Untel (also written un tel) is used as a placeholder name when the actual name is unknown or intentionally withheld — equivalent to 'Mr So-and-So'. The feminine form is unetelle. It appears in legal or administrative writing as a way to anonymise, and colloquially to refer vaguely to someone.

Examples

"Monsieur Untel a appelé ce matin."

Natural Translation

Mr So-and-so called this morning.

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