irrgendwelches

Irgendwelches is a German determiner and adjective used to refer to an unspecified kind or instance of something. It roughly translates as “some kind of” or “any old,” and it is placed before a noun to indicate vagueness about the item in question. The standard spelling is „irgendwelches“; the form „irrgendwelches“ is a common misspelling.

Forms and agreement

The form of the word agrees with the noun it modifies. Masculine singular nominative: irgendwelcher Mann. Feminine singular nominative: irgendwelche Frau. Neuter singular nominative: irgendwelches Kind. Plural (all genders): irgendwelche Bücher, irgendwelche Ideen. In other cases (cases, prepositional phrases) the endings change like regular adjective endings after the indefinite article, for example: mit irgendeinem Beweis (dative masculine), von irgendwelchen Hinweisen (dative plural).

Usage and nuances

Irgendwelches is used when the speaker wants to refer to some kind of thing without specifying which one. It can denote a neutral vagueness or a casual, non-precise reference. It contrasts with specific phrases like kein/keine (no) or ein bestimmtes (a particular). In everyday language, it often appears in questions or statements about possibilities or unspecified items, such as asking for hints, ideas, or objects.

Examples

Hast du irgendwelche Hinweise? I have a question: Do you have any hints?

Ich suche nach irgendeinem Beweis. I am looking for some piece of evidence.

Irgendwelche Ideen fallen dir ein? Do you have any ideas?

Wir brauchen irgendwelche Materialien. We need some materials.

Etymology and related terms

Irgendwelches derives from the indefinite prefix irgend- combined with welches, the neuter form of welcher. Related forms include irgendwelche (plural or feminine) and irgendwer/irgendjemand (someone), irgendetwas/irgendwas (something).