irgendwer
someone / anyone
An unspecified person whose identity is unknown or unimportant. In questions, it is used to ask about any person.
EXAMPLE
Irgendwer hat seinen Regenschirm im Bus vergessen.
Someone left their umbrella on the bus.
irgendwer
someone / anyone
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Meanings
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry irgendwer, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | irgendwer | – |
| accusative | irgendwen | – |
| dative | irgendwem | – |
| genitive | irgendwessen | – |
Usage tips
Case in the sentence
When used as an object, „irgendwer“ changes: in the accusative, use „irgendwen“ (someone / anyone), and in the dative, „irgendwem“ (someone / anyone). The form needed depends on the verb or preposition.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du irgendwen nach dem Weg fragen?
Can you ask someone for directions?
Vielleicht gehört die Tasche irgendwem aus unserer Klasse.
Maybe the bag belongs to someone from our class.
Verb in the singular
When „irgendwer“ is the subject, the verb is in the third-person singular. This also applies when one person from a larger group is meant.
EXAMPLE
Weiß irgendwer von euch, wann der Kurs beginnt?
Does anyone know when the course starts?
Not just anyone
„nicht irgendwer“ (not just anyone) emphasizes that a person is particularly important, well-known, or suitable. It is often followed by an explanation of what makes this person special.
EXAMPLE
Unser Gast ist nicht irgendwer: Sie hat den wichtigsten Literaturpreis des Landes gewonnen.
Our guest is not just anyone: she has won the country's most prestigious literary prize.
In real life
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