qualcuno

Qualcuno is an Italian indefinite pronoun that means someone or somebody. It refers to an unspecified person and is used when the speaker does not know or does not want to identify who is involved. Qualcuno can function as the subject or the object of a verb in both spoken and written Italian. It is commonly found in everyday conversation as well as in narrative prose.

The form is generally gender-neutral and singular. The feminine counterpart, qualcuna, can be used when referring to a specific female person or feminine nouns, though qualcuno is often used in practice when the gender is unknown. Qualcuno does not have a distinct plural form; when plural meaning is intended, constructions like “qualcuno di loro” (someone among them) or alternative phrases such as “alcuni” (some) are used. The word is derived from quale (which) + uno (one), literally signaling “which one.”

Qualcuno is often contrasted with nessuno (no one) and with chiunque (anyone) or cualquiera in other languages. Nessuno is used to negate presence or existence, while chiunque emphasizes any person without specification. In legal or formal language, more explicit phrases, such as una persona qualsiasi, may be used for clarity. Examples include: Qualcuno ha bussato alla porta. Non vedo nessuno in casa. Qualcuno di voi sa la risposta?