French word

quelque

Pronunciation

IPA/kɛlk/

Meaning

  • articlesome

Example

Il a donné quelque argent au sans-abri.

He gave some money to the homeless man.

Illustration for quelque (some)

More examples

J'ai besoin de quelque temps pour réfléchir.

I need some time to think.

Core concept

An unspecified amount is present, usually as a modest share placed before a noun.

Common phrases

  • quelque argent

    some money

  • quelque temps

    some time

Similar words

du: Indicates some unspecified amount before a masculine singular noun.
quelques: Indicates a small number before a plural noun.
des: Indicates some unspecified people or things before a plural noun.

Definition in French

Précède un nom pour marquer l'existence d'une quantité non déterminée, souvent modeste.

Word origin

Quelque comes through Old French from Latin qualiscumque, formed from qualis meaning "what kind" and cumque meaning "ever".

Usage tips

  • As a determiner, quelque is singular and invariable before a mass noun such as argent, while quelques is used with plural count nouns.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word