Ինչ-որ, որեւէ, ցանկացած, ոչ ոք: somebody, anybody, any and nobody
Generalization — "almost everyone", "mostly" — rests on indefinite words: someone, anything, any, nobody. Each has its own word here. For example: “Ինչ-որ մէկը զանգեց, բայց անունը չասաց” — Someone called, but did not give a name. A rule from the Western Armenian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Generalization — "almost everyone", "mostly" — rests on indefinite words: someone, anything, any, nobody. Each has its own word here.
Inch-or — "some"; voreve — "any". Inch-or megə zankets — someone called; inch-or degh — somewhere. Voreve harts unek'՞ — do you have any questions. The difference is like between "someone called" and "ask if someone will call".
Ts'angatsadz — "any you like"; omanak', shaderə — "some" and "many". Ts'angatsadz zhami — at any time; amen or — every day. Omanak' hamatsayn ch'en — some disagree; shaderə mnatsin — many stayed: ready-made nouns, and they decline.
And the negatives — always with negation in the verb. Voch vok' chegav — nobody came; voch mi tram ch'unim — not a single dram. The double negation here is not an error but a compulsory rule. Whenever the subject or the object is one of these words, the verb must carry չ-. Careful: in reply to an apology vochinch means "no harm done".
Table
| Word | Meaning | Example | Careful |
|---|---|---|---|
| ինչ-որ | some | ինչ-որ մէկը — someone | with a hyphen |
| որեւէ | any | որեւէ հարց — any question | in questions and conditions |
| ցանկացած | any you like | ցանկացած ժամի — at any time | from ցանկանալ — to wish |
| ամեն մէկը | each one | ամեն մէկը հերթով | — |
| ամեն ինչ | everything | ամեն ինչ պատրաստ է | about things, not people |
| ոմանք | some (people) | ոմանք համաձայն չեն | already a plural |
| շատերը | many (people) | շատերի կարծիքով | it declines |
| ոչ ոք | nobody | ոչ ոք չեկավ | the verb with չ- |
| ոչինչ | nothing | ոչինչ չեմ լսած | and also "no harm done" |
| ոչ մի | not a single | ոչ մի դրամ չունիմ | the verb with չ- |
By example
- Ինչ-որ մէկը զանգեց, բայց անունը չասացinch-or megə zankets, payts anunə chasatsSomeone called, but did not give a name
- Որեւէ հարց ունե՞ք, թե՞ սկսենքvoreve harts unek', t'e sgsenk'Do you have any questions, or shall we begin?
- Ոչ ոք չեկավ, եւ ոչինչ չփոխվեցvoch vok' chegav, yev vochinch chp'okhvetsNobody 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
somebody, anybody, any and nobody: how does it work in Western Armenian?
Generalization — "almost everyone", "mostly" — rests on indefinite words: someone, anything, any, nobody. Each has its own word here.
What does it look like in an example sentence Western Armenian?
“Ինչ-որ մէկը զանգեց, բայց անունը չասաց” (inch-or megə zankets, payts anunə chasats) — Someone called, but did not give a name. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.