French word

quelconque

Pronunciation

IPA/kɛlkɔ̃k/

Meaning

  • adjectiveordinary

Example

C'est une personne quelconque.

This is an ordinary person.

Illustration for quelconque (ordinary)

More examples

Le film était quelconque.

The movie was ordinary.

Core concept

An unmarked person or thing that could be any one among many.

Common phrases

  • une personne quelconque

    an ordinary person

  • un film quelconque

    an ordinary movie

Similar words

ordinaire: Everyday and not unusual in any way.
banal: Commonplace, with nothing fresh or surprising about it.
commun: Widely found and generally common.
moyen: Average, neither particularly good nor particularly poor.

Definition in French

Qui n'a rien de particulier, banal ou ordinaire, dépourvu de caractère distinctif.

Word origin

Quelconque developed from Old French quelconques and Latin qualiscumque, meaning 'of whatever kind' and combining qualis with cumque.

Usage tips

  • When applied to a person, quelconque can sound dismissive, so a more specific description is often tactful.

Opposites

Word lists with this word