{"id":138342,"date":"2019-02-20T08:41:26","date_gmt":"2019-02-20T13:41:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/indefinite-pronouns-spanish\/"},"modified":"2025-03-11T15:04:13","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T19:04:13","slug":"indefinite-pronouns-spanish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/indefinite-pronouns-spanish\/","title":{"rendered":"Indefinite Pronouns in Spanish"},"content":{"rendered":"

Indefinite pronouns are a type of pronoun that doesn’t refer to any particular person or thing. In English, they’re words like “something,” “someone” and “nothing.” In Spanish, common indefinite pronouns are words like algo<\/em> (something), alguien<\/em> (someone) and nada<\/em> (nothing).<\/p>\n

They’re incredibly useful words, as we’re about to see, but it’s important to learn which ones to use in which situations. Are you ready?<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What Are Spanish Indefinite Pronouns<\/h2>\n

As we know,\u00a0pronouns<\/a> can substitute any noun. You might know the noun that they are referring to, or you might not.<\/p>\n

The sorts of pronouns that\u00a0refer to vague or unknown people,\u00a0objects, animals and thoughts are called indefinite pronouns.<\/strong> The nouns they substitute will not always be defined or specific, so the name kind of makes sense.<\/p>\n

Indefinite Pronouns in Spanish<\/h2>\n

1. Algo<\/em>\u00a0(Something)<\/h3>\n

Algo<\/em> is one of those pronouns that is not gender- or number-specific. Since\u00a0algo<\/em> refers to something unknown or unspecified, we cannot ascribe any gender or number to it.<\/p>\n

Remember that we can also use algo <\/em>when we do not want to give away information.<\/p>\n

He o\u00eddo algo<\/strong> raro.\u00a0<\/em>(I have heard something strange.)<\/p>\n

\u00bfHas comprado algo?<\/strong> <\/em>(Have you bought something?)<\/p>\n

Algo<\/strong> no va bien.\u00a0<\/em>(Something is not right.)<\/p>\n

2. Alguien<\/em>\u00a0(Somebody, Someone)<\/h3>\n

Similar to\u00a0algo,<\/em> alguien <\/em>also substitutes an unknown or unspecified noun. The difference, however, is that we are talking about people,<\/strong> not objects, this time. The all-singular rule also applies, whether we know the number of people referred to or not.<\/p>\n

\u00bfHay alguien<\/strong> ah\u00ed? <\/em>(Is anyone there?)<\/p>\n

Alguien<\/strong> est\u00e1 llamando a la puerta.\u00a0<\/em>(There is someone knocking on the door.)<\/p>\n

Ya tengo a alguien<\/strong> en mi vida.\u00a0<\/em>(I already have somebody in my life.)<\/p>\n

3. Alguno<\/em>\u00a0(One, Some, Any)<\/h3>\n

Variations: <\/strong>Alguna<\/em>, algunos, algunas<\/em><\/p>\n

Just as its adjectival counterpart, alguno<\/em> and its forms can be used to refer to people, things, animals and thoughts\/ideas.<\/p>\n

The singular forms alguno<\/em> and alguna<\/em> are the two mainly used. Many speakers, even when referring to a plural noun, prefer to use the singular form to make things easier. You can use the one you prefer, but for the sake of clarity I will be using the forms our grammar prescribes.<\/p>\n

One last thing before giving you some examples: Remember to choose the appropriate form depending on the gender and number of the noun!<\/p>\n

“\u00bfTienes un l\u00e1piz?” “Debo tener alguno<\/strong> por aqu\u00ed.”\u00a0<\/em>(“Do you have a pencil?” “I must have one around here.”)<\/p>\n

\u00bfTe queda alguna?<\/strong> <\/em>(Do you have any left?)<\/p>\n

Algunos<\/strong> son muy caros.\u00a0<\/em>(Some of them are very expensive.)<\/p>\n

4. Bastante<\/em>\u00a0(Enough)<\/h3>\n

Variation: <\/strong>Bastantes<\/em><\/p>\n

I know this one may be weird for some of you. Enough is enough! Well… not in Spanish!<\/p>\n

Bastante <\/em>is not gender specific, but it certainly is number specific. It normally goes like this: use bastante <\/em>with singular and uncountable nouns, and use bastantes <\/em>with plurals. Easy!<\/p>\n

\u00bfTienes bastante<\/strong> dinero? <\/em>(Do you have enough money?)<\/p>\n

No queda bastante.<\/strong> <\/em>(There is not enough left.)<\/p>\n

“\u00bfTienes amigos?” “Tengo bastantes.”<\/strong> <\/em>(“Do you have any friends?” “I have enough of them.”)<\/p>\n

5. Cualquiera\u00a0(Any, Any One, Anyone)<\/h3>\n

Variation:\u00a0<\/strong>Cualesquiera<\/em><\/p>\n

We use cualquiera <\/em>and cualesquiera<\/em> when we are referring to people or objects and we do not care which one or ones will be the “chosen ones.” Some people may call this being lazy or not wanting to make a decision. We Spaniards call it giving others the chance to choose for us.<\/p>\n

Imagine you want to buy a book. Any book. You go to a bookstore and ask for a book, and the seller will probably ask:<\/p>\n

\u00bfQu\u00e9 clase de libro? <\/em>(What kind of book?)<\/p>\n

If you do not mind which one you will be getting, you can just say:<\/p>\n

Cualquiera<\/strong> me vale.\u00a0<\/em>(Any one will do.)<\/p>\n

Strange, but not impossible. So remember: if you do not mind which person or object will be chosen, go for cualquiera:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00bfPuede cualquiera<\/strong> ser un buen traductor? <\/em>(Can anyone be a good translator?)<\/p>\n

“\u00bfQu\u00e9 colores quieres?” “Cualesquiera.” <\/strong><\/em>(“Which colors do you want?” “I do not mind\/Any will do.”)<\/p>\n

6. Demasiado<\/em>\u00a0(Too Much, Too Many)<\/h3>\n

Variations: <\/strong>Demasiada, demasiados<\/em>, demasiadas
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Demasiado <\/em>is specific to gender and number so bear that in mind when using it in a sentence.<\/p>\n

Use the singular forms when you are referring to uncountable nouns, and the plural ones when you are referring to countable ones:<\/p>\n

Ya tengo demasiado.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(I have too much already.)<\/p>\n

\u00bfPiensas que he a\u00f1adido demasiada?<\/strong> <\/em>(Do you think I have added too much?)<\/p>\n

Para ti nunca hay demasiadas.<\/strong> <\/em>(There are never too many for you.)<\/p>\n

7. Mucho<\/em>\u00a0(Much, Many, A Lot)<\/h3>\n

Variations: <\/strong>Mucha, muchos, muchas<\/em><\/p>\n

Mucho <\/em>is very similar to demasiado <\/em>in that you will use the singular forms with uncountable nouns and the plural ones with countable nouns. This is one of the most often-used Spanish indefinite pronouns, and a perfect example of what “undetermined quantity” means:<\/p>\n

Nos ha sobrado mucho.<\/strong> <\/em>(We have a lot left.)<\/p>\n

Hay muchos<\/strong> m\u00e1s de lo que pensaba.\u00a0<\/em>(There are a lot more than I thought.)<\/p>\n

“\u00bfCu\u00e1ntas amigas tienes?” “Muchas.”<\/strong> <\/em>(“How many girl friends do you have?” “A lot.”)<\/p>\n

8. Nada<\/em> (Nothing, Not Anything)<\/h3>\n

Nada<\/em> is algo’s<\/em> pessimistic sister. It is very easy to use, but it works differently depending on its place in the sentence.<\/p>\n

If you negate a verb with no,<\/em> you can later on use nada <\/em>and create a double negative<\/a>:<\/p>\n

No me gusta nada.<\/strong> <\/em>(I do not like anything.)<\/p>\n

No ha tra\u00eddo nada.<\/strong> <\/em>(He has not brought anything.)<\/p>\n

If you negate the verb with nada,<\/em> then you are not allowed to use no <\/em>in the sentence:<\/p>\n

Nada<\/strong> me gusta.\u00a0<\/em>(I like nothing.)<\/p>\n

Nada<\/strong> ha tra\u00eddo.\u00a0<\/em>(He has brought nothing.)<\/p>\n

9. Nadie<\/em> (No One, Not Anyone)<\/h3>\n

Similarly to what we had with algo <\/em>and nada<\/em>, nadie<\/em> is alguien’s<\/em> sister.\u00a0Additionally, the two rules regarding negation also apply here. Have a look:<\/p>\n

No me gusta nadie.<\/strong> <\/em>(I do not like anyone.)<\/p>\n

Nadie<\/strong> me gusta.\u00a0<\/em>(I like no one.)<\/p>\n

No ha venido nadie.<\/strong> <\/em>(No one has come.)<\/p>\n

10. Ninguno<\/em>\u00a0(None, Not Any, No One, Nobody)<\/h3>\n

Variations: <\/strong>Ninguna, n<\/em>ingunos<\/em><\/em>, n<\/em>ingunas<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

Once again we have an example of a negative counterpart to a positive pronoun. In this case, ninguno <\/em>is alguno’s<\/em> negation.<\/p>\n

As was the case with alguno<\/em>, Spanish native speakers tend to avoid using the plural forms for the sake of simplification. After all, if we have zero nouns, it does not make sense to use the plural. However, I will use the “more grammatical way” and keep the gender and number agreements.<\/p>\n

Negation rules apply here once again:<\/p>\n

No queda ninguno.<\/strong> <\/em>(There is none left.)<\/p>\n

No queremos ningunos.<\/strong> <\/em>(We do not want any.)<\/p>\n

“\u00bfTienes ganas de cantar?” “Ningunas.”<\/strong> <\/em>(“Do you feel like singing?” “Not at all.”)<\/p>\n

11. Otro<\/em> (Other One, Another One, Some Other)<\/h3>\n

Variations:\u00a0<\/strong>Otra, otros, otras<\/em><\/p>\n

This one is very easy. Use otro <\/em>when you want a different instance of the noun referred to. Remember to keep the gender and number agreements:<\/p>\n

Dame otro.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(Give me another one.)<\/p>\n

Pareces otra.<\/strong> <\/em>(You look like another person\/a different person.)<\/p>\n

As with its adjectival counterpart, you can add m\u00e1s <\/em>to otro\/a<\/em> to change the meaning to “one more”:<\/p>\n

Dame otro<\/strong> m\u00e1s.\u00a0<\/em>(Give me one more.)<\/p>\n

Quiero otra<\/strong> m\u00e1s.\u00a0<\/em>(I want one more.)<\/p>\n

12. Poco<\/em> (Little, A Little, Few, A Few)<\/h3>\n

Variations:\u00a0<\/strong>Poca, pocos, pocas<\/em><\/p>\n

Poco<\/em> should not be difficult to remember if you follow a couple of simple rules. Use it by itself when you mean “little”\u00a0(poco\/a)<\/em> and “few” (pocos\/as):<\/em><\/p>\n

Tengo poco.<\/strong> <\/em>(I have little.)<\/p>\n

Es muy poca.<\/strong> <\/em>(That is very little.)<\/p>\n

Me quedan pocos.<\/strong> <\/em>(I have few left.)<\/p>\n

Also, add un\/a\/os\/as<\/em> accordingly when you mean “a little”\u00a0(un poco, una poca)<\/em> and “a few” (unos pocos, unas pocas):<\/em><\/p>\n

Necesito un poco.<\/strong> <\/em>(I need a little.)<\/p>\n

Dame una<\/strong><\/em> poca<\/em>.<\/strong> (Give me a little.)<\/p>\n

Me quedan unos pocos.<\/strong> <\/em>(I have a few left.)<\/p>\n

He comprado unas pocas.<\/strong> <\/em>(I have bought a few.)<\/p>\n

13. Varios<\/em> (A Few, Some, Several)<\/h3>\n

Variation:\u00a0<\/strong>Varias<\/em><\/p>\n

Finally, we have an example of a Spanish indefinite pronoun that does not exist in the singular form. By nature, varios<\/em> will always be plural.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no specific quantity that\u00a0varios <\/em>refers to. This is not surprising due to the fact that it is an indefinite pronoun. However, you will normally know approximately if we are talking about a few or several depending on the context.<\/p>\n

Have a look at these examples:<\/p>\n

Me quedan varios.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(I have a few\/some left.)<\/p>\n

Tengo varias<\/strong> en la nevera.\u00a0<\/em>(I have some in the fridge.)<\/p>\n

Hay varias<\/strong> en el universo. <\/em>(There are several in the universe.)<\/p>\n

To understand the different contexts you should use\u00a0varios\u00a0<\/em>(and the other indefinite pronouns) in, I’d recommend consuming some authentic content\u2014this way you can see how they’re used by native speakers. FluentU can be a good option for this.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

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