German irgend- Words: irgendwas, irgendwann & More
Irgendwann wohne ich in einem schönen Haus am Meer. The little word irgend- turns a question word or an indefinite word into something unspecific: some time, somewhere, someone, somehow. This lesson shows you all the possible combinations with irgend- and how to use them in everyday German.
Irgend- means "any" or "some ... or other". You attach it to a word and make it unspecific: you do not know or do not care exactly who, what, where or when.
All Combinations at a Glance
| Base word | With irgend- | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| jemand | irgendjemand | someone, anyone |
| etwas | irgendetwas / irgendwas | something, anything |
| ein / eine | irgendein / irgendeine | some, any (one) |
| welche (plural) | irgendwelche | some, any (plural) |
| wer / wen / wem | irgendwer / irgendwen / irgendwem | somebody (spoken) |
| wo | irgendwo | somewhere |
| wohin | irgendwohin | to somewhere |
| woher | irgendwoher | from somewhere |
| wie | irgendwie | somehow |
| wann | irgendwann | sometime |
| einmal | irgendeinmal | once (at some point) |
Example Sentences
- Kann mir irgendjemand bitte helfen? (Can anyone please help me?)
- Irgendwoher kenne ich ihn. (I know him from somewhere.)
- Irgendwann wohne ich in einem schönen Haus am Meer. (Someday I will live in a nice house by the sea.)
- Gab es irgendwelchen Ă„rger? (Was there any trouble?)
irgendein and irgendwelche
Irgendein works like the article ein: it takes the endings of ein and refers to one person or thing. Irgendwelche is the plural (and is used with uncountable nouns, as in irgendwelchen Ă„rger). In Gab es irgendwelchen Ă„rger? the ending is -en because es gibt takes the Akkusativ and Ă„rger is masculine.
Bonus Tip: Be Careful with Tone
Words with irgend- can sound dismissive or disrespectful when you talk about people or their work, because they say that you do not care exactly what or who it is. Use them with care, especially with irgendwer and irgendwas.
Homework
Write one sentence each with irgendwo, irgendwann and irgendwie.
What to Learn Next
First watch 8 German Indefinite Words You Need to Know. Then read Indefinitpronomen Teil 1 and Teil 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does irgend- mean in German?
Irgend- makes a word unspecific. Irgendwo means somewhere, irgendwann means sometime and irgendjemand means someone.
What is the difference between irgendetwas and irgendwas?
They mean the same. Irgendwas is the shorter, spoken form of irgendetwas.
When do I use irgendein and irgendwelche?
Irgendein is for one person or thing and has the endings of ein. Irgendwelche is the plural form.
Is irgendwie always polite?
Irgendwie itself is neutral. But irgend- words about people or their work can sound dismissive, so use them with care.
Which irgend- words are spoken language?
Irgendwer, irgendwen, irgendwem and irgendwas are very common in spoken German.
Want to master tricky words like these in context? Take a look at our German online courses and find the level that fits you.
