French word

quiconque

Pronunciation

IPA/kikɔ̃k/

Meaning

  • pronounanyone who

Example

Quiconque veut participer doit s'inscrire.

Anyone who wants to participate must register.

Illustration for quiconque (anyone who)

More examples

Quiconque le souhaite peut assister à la réunion.

Anyone who wishes it can attend the meeting.

Core concept

An open gate with one unnamed person allowed through, whoever that person is.

Common phrases

  • quiconque veut

    anyone who wants

  • quiconque le souhaite

    anyone who wishes it

Similar words

tout le monde: Everyone in a group or situation.
quelqu'un: An unspecified person.
n'importe qui: Anybody at all, with no restriction on who qualifies.
personne: Nobody, in a negative statement.

Definition in French

Signifie «toute personne», souvent employé dans des formulations générales ou conditionnelles.

Word origin

Quiconque comes from Latin quicumque, formed from qui, meaning "who," and cumque, meaning "ever," through Old French.

Usage tips

  • Quiconque is a formal word, while n'importe qui is usually more natural in everyday speech.

Opposites

Word lists with this word