Spanish word

cualquier

Pronunciation

IPA/kwalˈkjeɾ/

Meaning

  • adjectiveany

Example

No aceptamos cualquier excusa.

We do not accept any excuse.

Illustration for cualquier (any)

More examples

Puedes invitar a cualquier persona a la fiesta.

You can invite anyone to the party.

Core concept

Any single person or thing without restriction.

Common phrases

  • cualquier cosa

    anything

  • cualquier persona

    anyone

  • cualquier lugar

    anywhere

Similar words

alguno: One unspecified person or thing from a set is chosen but not identified.
todo: The entirety of a set (every member or element) is included.
cada: Each individual in a set is regarded on its own.

Definition in Spanish

Expresa ausencia de limitación entre opciones; va delante de un sustantivo singular para indicar 'de cualquier instancia u opción'.

Word origin

From Latin qualiscumque via Old Spanish cualquiera, modern Spanish keeps the shortened 'cualquier' before singular nouns and reserves 'cualquiera' for pronoun or postnominal uses.

Usage tips

  • To convey plural 'any' either rephrase the sentence or use 'cualesquiera' (rare in speech), since 'cualquier' does not appear before plural nouns.

Other meanings

  • whicheverpronoun

Opposites

Related words

  • cualquieraanyonepronoun
  • cualesquierawhicheverpronoun

Word lists with this word