някой/нещо/някъде

Someone, Something and Somewhere

Level 2Sounds Like nâkoj/neŝo/nâkʺde

Put ня- in front of a question word and you get a "some-" word: кой → някой (someone), къде → някъде (somewhere), кога → някога (sometime). "Something" is нещо.

How It Works

1. The main ня- words.

  • някой (someone); with a noun it agrees: някой ден (some day), някоя книга (some book), някое място (some place)
  • някои (some, some people) for the plural: някои хора (some people)
  • нещо (something)
  • някъде (somewhere)
  • някога (sometime, once, ever)
  • някак (somehow)

2. Questions: "any". In a question, ня- words usually translate as "any": Имаш ли нещо за четене? (Do you have anything to read?) Бил ли си някога в Созопол? (Have you ever been to Sozopol?)

3. Нещо with an adjective. An adjective after нещо is neuter: нещо сладко (something sweet), нещо ново (something new).

4. Някой or някои? They sound almost the same but are different words. Някой is singular (someone, some ... one), while някои is plural (some people, some things): Някой пита за теб. (Someone is asking for you.) Някои хора обичат зимата. (Some people love winter.)

5. Ня- or ни-? One letter changes the meaning: някой (someone) versus никой (nobody). The ни- words always need не on the verb; see negative words with не.

Good to know: when "someone" is an object, careful speech uses някого: Чакаш ли някого? (Are you waiting for someone?)

Examples (6)

  1. Някой звъни на вратата.

    Someone is ringing the doorbell.

  2. Искаш ли нещо за пиене?

    Would you like something to drink?

    In an offer, нещо means "something" or "anything".

  3. Ключовете са някъде в чантата.

    The keys are somewhere in the bag.

  4. Има ли някой вкъщи?

    Is anyone home?

    In a question, някой is often "anyone".

  5. Някои хора обичат да стават рано.

    Some people like to get up early.

    Някои is the plural form.

  6. Бил ли си някога в Созопол?

    Have you ever been to Sozopol?

    In a question, някога means "ever".

Common Mistakes

  • Using никой when you mean "someone".

    Никой звъни на вратата.
    Някой звъни на вратата.

    Никой means "nobody" and needs не on the verb. For "someone", use някой.

  • Using a feminine adjective after нещо.

    Искам нещо сладка.
    Искам нещо сладко.

    Нещо is neuter, so the adjective after it takes the neuter ending -о.

  • Writing singular някой before a plural noun.

    Някой хора мислят така.
    Някои хора мислят така.

    Before a plural noun, use the plural form някои.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

някой/нещо/някъдеLevel 2Someone, Something and Somewhere

Learn This First

Indefinites with ня- build on the question words.

Words in This Pattern

някойнякойнещонякъденякоганя-