algún
Lemma Details
Translation: some; any; a certain
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'aliquem' (accusative of 'aliquis' meaning 'someone, anybody'). It evolved through Vulgar Latin into Old Spanish, eventually becoming 'algún'. The word combines 'ali-' (other, another) with 'quis' (who), creating a sense of 'some one' or 'any one'. This formation parallels English indefinite terms that express partial or unspecified quantity.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'algún' as 'all-gone' but with some left – 'some' but not all.
- The 'al' in 'algún' can remind you of 'alternative' – suggesting one option among many possibilities.
Cultural Context
A fundamental word in Spanish that's used in countless everyday expressions. Understanding the gender agreement and apocopation rules (dropping the final 'o' before masculine nouns) is essential for proper usage.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'algún' means 'some/any' in an affirmative sense, 'ningún' means 'no/not any' in a negative sense. They are direct opposites.
This word:
Tengo algún dinero.
I have some money.
Confused word:
No tengo ningún dinero.
I don't have any money.
Notes: Both words follow the same pattern of dropping the final 'o' before masculine singular nouns.
Mnemonic: 'Algún' starts with 'A' for 'affirmative', while 'ningún' starts with 'N' for 'negative'.
Explanation: 'Algún' is an adjective that must be followed by a noun, while 'alguien' is a pronoun meaning 'someone/somebody' that stands alone.
Confused word:
Alguien sabe la respuesta.
Someone knows the answer.
Notes: Both come from the same Latin root but serve different grammatical functions.
Mnemonic: 'Algún' needs a noun friend to follow it, while 'alguien' stands alone.