some / any
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some / any
Used before indefinite pronouns, adverbs, or articles to express indefiniteness, arbitrariness, or indifference.
Gib mir einfach irgend ein Buch, es ist egal, welches.
Just give me any book; it doesn't matter which one.
'Irgend' is a building block for many indefinite pronouns and adverbs. It forms words like 'irgendwer' (someone/anyone), 'irgendwas' (something/anything), 'irgendwo' (somewhere/anywhere), and 'irgendwann' (sometime/at some point).
Kann mir irgendwer helfen?
Can anyone help me?
Before an indefinite article ('ein', 'eine', 'einen', etc.), 'irgend' emphasizes arbitrariness. 'Irgendein' means that it completely does not matter which item is meant.
Nimm dir einfach irgendeinen Stuhl, es sind noch genug frei.
Just take any chair; there are still enough free.
In spoken language, 'irgend' is sometimes used before adjectives and then means 'irgendwie' (somehow) or 'auf eine unbestimmte Weise' (in an indefinite way). This use is very informal.
Der Film war ja ganz gut, aber das Ende fand ich irgend komisch.
The film was pretty good, but I found the ending kind of strange.
certain / specific
'bestimmt' and 'irgend' are often opposites when it comes to precision. 'bestimmt' then means: something is specific or has been chosen exactly. 'irgend' shows that something is not precisely fixed or that it does not matter which one. Learners may confuse them because both can occur before words like 'ein', 'jemand', or 'wann'. The difference is: 'ein bestimmter Termin' is a specific appointment/date; 'irgendein Termin' is any appointment/date.
Du kannst nicht irgendeinen Termin wählen, weil der Arzt nur montags da ist.
You can't choose just any appointment because the doctor is only there on Mondays.
Für die Prüfung braucht die Familie ein bestimmtes Formular.
The family needs a specific form for the exam.