manchen

Manchen is a form of the German determiner manch, meaning some or a number of. It is used to indicate an indefinite subset of a larger group and often precedes a plural noun. In standard German, manch can be declined to fit the case and number of the noun it accompanies.

In the plural, manche is used for the nominative and accusative cases (as in manche Leute). The form manchen is used for the dative plural (as in mit manchen Leuten). The genitive plural form is less common and varies by construction, with different phrases often serving to express similar meanings. Because manch is an adjective-like determiner, its endings align with typical German adjective declension patterns before plural nouns.

Usage notes:

- Manchen is frequently found after prepositions that govern the dative case, such as mit, von, or zu, as in mit manchen Leuten or von manchen Geschichten.

- Manchen can also appear in clauses without an explicit noun in a predicative sense, though this is less common and can sound stylistically marked.

- The broader family form manch appears in phrases like mancher Mann or manche Frauen, where the ending changes with case, number, and gender.

Etymology and context:

Manch derives from older Germanic usage meaning a portion or several members of a group. In modern German, manch is common in both everyday speech and written contexts, ranging from informal to formal registers. It is closely related to other indefinite determiners and often appears in comparative or contrastive constructions to emphasize partial inclusion within a larger set.

See also: manch-, indefinite determiners in German, German adjective declension.