quicòm, degun, res

Something, Nobody and Nothing

Level 3

Quicòm is something, degun is nobody, res is nothing.

How It Works

WordMeaningExample
quicòmsomethingVesi quicòm.
degunnobody, anybodyAi pas vist degun.
resnothing, anythingAi pas res de bon.

When an adjective follows, de comes between: quicòm de bon (something good), res de bon (nothing good).

With a negative, English says nobody or anything. Occitan puts pas after the verb and keeps degun or res: Ai pas vist degun. I did not see anybody.

Be careful with quicòm in a negative sentence. Vesi pas quicòm would point to one particular thing I do not see. To say I see nothing, use Vesi pas res.

Examples (5)

  1. Vesi quicòm.

    I see something.

    Quicòm means something.

  2. Ai quicòm de bon.

    I have something good.

    De comes between quicòm and the adjective.

  3. Vòles quicòm?

    Do you want something?

    Quicòm can be used in a question.

  4. Ai pas vist degun.

    I have not seen anybody.

    Degun goes with pas in a negative sentence.

  5. Ai pas res de bon.

    I have nothing good.

    Res goes with pas, and de joins the adjective.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out de before the adjective.

    Ai quicòm bon.
    Ai quicòm de bon.

    An adjective after quicòm, degun or res needs de.

  • Using quicòm to say nothing.

    Vesi pas quicòm.
    Vesi pas res.

    Vesi pas quicòm would point to one particular thing I do not see. For nothing, use res.

How It Connects

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

quicòm, degun, resLevel 3Something, Nobody and Nothing

Learn This First

Quicòm, degun and res are indefinite words that use de and the negative words, so res and degun and the partitive de come first.

Words in This Pattern

quicòmdegunres