irgendein

German

Alternative forms

• iein (Internet slang)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɪrɡəntˌaɪ̯n/, [ˈɪɐ̯.(ɡ)ŋ̍tˌ(ʔ)ae̯n]
• IPA^(key): /ˈɪrɡəntˈaɪ̯n/

• Audio:

  (file)

Determiner

irgendein

1. (indefinite) some; any

   Synonym: beliebig

Usage notes

• The German word is used only with countable singulars. For plurals and uncountable singulars, use irgendwelcher.
• The distinction between some and any is alien to German. On the other hand, irgendein is not freely usable for “any” where this word is similar in meaning to “every”, as in You can choose any of my books. Any student can apply. This sense can usually be covered by the somewhat formal jeder beliebige: Du kannst jedes beliebige von meinen Büchern auswählen. Jeder beliebige Student kann sich bewerben. In more idiomatic German, jeder, welcher auch immer, or even irgendein are more common, but the right choice between them requires some experience as they are not always interchangeable.

Declension

Declension of irgendein
	masculine	feminine	neuter	plural
nominative	irgendein	irgendeine	irgendein	–
genitive	irgendeines	irgendeiner	irgendeines	–
dative	irgendeinem	irgendeiner	irgendeinem	–
accusative	irgendeinen	irgendeine	irgendein	–

Derived terms

• irgendeiner (pronoun)
• irgendeins (pronoun)
• irgendeinmal

Further reading

• “irgendein” in Duden online
• “irgendein” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache