Ինչ-որ, որևէ, ցանկացած, ոչ ոք: someone, anyone, any and no one
The forty-ninth unit is all about generalizing: 'almost everyone', 'as a rule', 'mostly'. Generalization rests on indefinite words — someone, something, any, no one — and in Armenian each of them has its own word with its own rule. The course met personal and question pronouns back in the second wave; this is the last shelf to fill. For example: “Ինչ-որ մեկը զանգեց, բայց անունը չասաց” — Someone called, but did not…
How it works
The forty-ninth unit is all about generalizing: 'almost everyone', 'as a rule', 'mostly'. Generalization rests on indefinite words — someone, something, any, no one — and in Armenian each of them has its own word with its own rule. The course met personal and question pronouns back in the second wave; this is the last shelf to fill.
Ինչ-որ (inch vor) — 'some': it exists, but is unknown. Ինչ-որ մեկը զանգեց (inch vor mekə zangets) — someone called, ինչ-որ բան մոռացա (inch vor ban morratsa) — I forgot something, ինչ-որ տեղ (inch-vor tegh) — somewhere. Written with a hyphen and placed before the word. This is the workhorse of the indefinite words.
Որևէ (voreve) — 'any': in questions and conditions. Որևէ հարց ունե՞ք (voreve harts unek') — do you have any questions, եթե որևէ խնդիր լինի (yet'e voreve khndir lini) — if there is any problem. The difference from ինչ-որ is the same as between 'someone called' and 'if someone calls': the first already happened, the second has not yet.
Ցանկացած (tsankatsats) and ամեն մի (amen mi) — 'any one you like'. Ցանկացած ժամի (tsankatsats zhami) — at any time (literally 'at whichever you wish'), ամեն մի աշակերտ (amen mi ashakert) — every single student. Nearby stands ամեն (amen): ամեն օր (amen or) — every day, ամեն ինչ (amen inch) — everything, ամեն մեկը (amen mekə) — each one.
Ոմանք (vomank'), մի քանիսը, շատերը (shaterə) — 'some' and 'many'. Ոմանք համաձայն չեն (vomank' hamadzayn chen) — some do not agree, մի քանիսը ուշացան — several were late, շատերը մնացին (shaterə mnatsin) — many stayed. All three are ready-made nouns, and they decline: շատերի կարծիքով — in the opinion of many.
And the negatives — always together with a negation in the verb. Ոչ ոք չեկավ (voch vok' chekav) — no one came, ոչինչ չեմ լսել (vochinch chem lsel) — I heard nothing, ոչ մի դրամ չունեմ (voch mi dram chunem) — not a dram to my name. Double negation in Armenian is not a mistake but an obligatory rule — the verb must carry its չ- even though ոչ (voch) already said 'no'. Ոչ ոք (voch ok') is written as two words, ոչինչ (vochinch) as one — that is simply memorized. Careful with ոչինչ: in reply to an apology it means 'it's nothing, no harm done'.
Table
| Word | Meaning | Example | Careful |
|---|---|---|---|
| ինչ-որ | some | ինչ-որ մեկը — someone | with a hyphen |
| որևէ | any | որևէ հարց — any question | in questions and conditions |
| ցանկացած | any one you like | ցանկացած ժամի — at any time | from ցանկանալ — to wish |
| ամեն մեկը | each one | ամեն մեկը հերթով | — |
| ամեն ինչ | everything | ամեն ինչ պատրաստ է | about things, not people |
| ոմանք | some (people) | ոմանք համաձայն չեն | already plural |
| շատերը | many | շատերի կարծիքով | it declines |
| ոչ ոք | no one | ոչ ոք չեկավ | the verb carries չ- |
| ոչինչ | nothing | ոչինչ չեմ լսել | also no harm done |
| ոչ մի | not a single one | ոչ մի դրամ չունեմ | the verb carries չ- |
By example
- Ինչ-որ մեկը զանգեց, բայց անունը չասացinch-vor mekə zangets, bayts anunə chasatsSomeone called, but did not give their name
- Որևէ հարց ունե՞ք, թե՞ սկսենքvoreve harts unek', t'e sksenk'?Do you have any questions, or shall we begin?
- Ոչ ոք չեկավ, և ոչինչ չփոխվեցvoch vok' chekav, yev vochinch chp'okhvetsNo one came, and nothing changed
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
someone, anyone, any and no one: how does it work in Armenian?
The forty-ninth unit is all about generalizing: 'almost everyone', 'as a rule', 'mostly'. Generalization rests on indefinite words — someone, something, any, no one — and in Armenian each of them has its own word with its own rule. The course met personal and question pronouns back in the second…
What does it look like in an example sentence Armenian?
“Ինչ-որ մեկը զանգեց, բայց անունը չասաց” (inch-vor mekə zangets, bayts anunə chasats) — Someone called, but did not give their name. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.