algunos
“algunos” means “some” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
some, a few
Also: several, any
📝 In Action
Tengo algunos libros sobre la mesa.
A1I have some books on the table.
Necesito algunos minutos para terminar.
A2I need a few minutes to finish.
Algunos días son más difíciles que otros.
B1Some days are more difficult than others.
some, some people
Also: a few of them
📝 In Action
¿Necesitas bolígrafos? Toma, aquí tienes algunos.
A2Do you need pens? Here, you can have some.
Algunos prefieren el verano, pero yo prefiero el invierno.
A2Some (people) prefer summer, but I prefer winter.
De todos mis amigos, solo algunos viven en mi ciudad.
B1Of all my friends, only a few of them live in my city.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: algunos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses a word from the 'alguno' family? 'Chica' (girl) is a singular, feminine noun.
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Old Spanish 'alguno', which is a combination of the Latin words 'aliquis' (meaning 'someone') and 'unus' (meaning 'one'). It literally evolved from the idea of 'some one' or 'any one' to mean 'some' in a more general sense.
First recorded: Around the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'algunos' and 'unos'?
They are very close and often can be used for each other to mean 'some'. The slight difference is that 'unos' is a more general, neutral 'some' (like the plural of 'a/an'). 'Algunos' can sometimes feel more specific, like 'some out of a larger group'. For a beginner, you can use them almost interchangeably without causing confusion.
Why does 'alguno' sometimes change to 'algún'?
It's a special pronunciation rule in Spanish. When 'alguno' comes directly before a singular masculine noun (like 'día' or 'problema'), it shortens to 'algún' to make it flow better. So, it's 'algún día' (some day), not 'alguno día'.
Is 'ningunos' the opposite of 'algunos'?
Yes, but be careful! 'Ningunos' (and 'ningunas') is very rare in Spanish. To say 'I don't have any books', you would say 'No tengo ningún libro' (using the singular form), not 'No tengo ningunos libros'. In Spanish, 'not any' is usually expressed in the singular.