cualquier

/kwal-KYEHR/

any

A child happily selecting one simple, solid-colored shirt from a row of identical shirts on a wooden rack.

Choosing 'cualquier' means the choice is open; any one of these shirts is acceptable.

cualquier(Adjective / Determiner)

any?when the choice doesn't matter

Also:whichever?when picking from options,whatever?referring to a thing

📝 In Action

Puedes elegir cualquier camisa, no me importa.

You can choose any shirt, I don't mind.

Llámame a cualquier hora si necesitas algo.

Call me at any time if you need something.

Cualquier día es bueno para empezar a aprender español.

Any day is a good day to start learning Spanish.

Word Connections

Antonyms

ningún (no, not any)

Common Collocations

en cualquier caso – in any case
en cualquier momento – at any moment
de cualquier manera – anyway / in any way

💡 Grammar Points

Always Before a Noun

Use 'cualquier' right before the person or thing you're talking about. It works for both masculine and feminine words, which is super helpful! Example: 'cualquier libro' (any book), 'cualquier casa' (any house).

The Singular Trick

Even when you mean 'any' in a general, plural sense, you almost always use 'cualquier' with a singular noun. For example, 'Pregúntale a cualquier estudiante' means 'Ask any student,' but it implies you could ask all of them.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up 'Cualquier' and 'Cualquiera'

Mistake: "Quiero *cualquiera* libro."

Correction: Quiero *cualquier* libro. (I want any book.) When the word for 'any' comes *before* the item, it shortens to 'cualquier'. Think of it as a special rule for when it's in front.

⭐ Usage Tips

Making Suggestions and Giving Permission

This word is perfect for showing that the options are open. It's a friendly way to say 'the choice is yours' or 'it doesn't matter which one'.

A plain, gray, unadorned wooden block being picked up from a pile of unique, colorful, detailed carved wooden toys.

Highlighting 'cualquier' in this sense emphasizes that the item is ordinary, not special or unique.

cualquier(Adjective / Determiner)

just any?dismissive, implying something is ordinary

Also:some random?unspecified and unimportant,any old?informal, ordinary

📝 In Action

No es un coche cualquier, es el que siempre soñé.

It's not just any car, it's the one I always dreamed of.

No puedes dejar tus llaves en cualquier sitio.

You can't leave your keys in just any old place.

Él no es un profesor cualquier; es el mejor del país.

He's not some random teacher; he's the best in the country.

Word Connections

Synonyms

ordinario (ordinary)
común y corriente (run-of-the-mill)

Antonyms

especial (special)
único (unique)

⭐ Usage Tips

For Making a Contrast

This meaning is all about contrast. You use it to say something is not ordinary or unremarkable. The tone of voice is very important here to show you mean 'just any' instead of the more general 'any'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cualquier

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence is correct?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cualquiera(anyone, anybody, any) - pronoun/adjective

cualesquiera(any (plural, very formal)) - pronoun/adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'cualquier' and 'cualquiera'?

It's all about placement! Use 'cualquier' BEFORE a noun (e.g., 'cualquier coche' - any car). Use 'cualquiera' when it stands alone as 'anyone' (e.g., 'Cualquiera puede venir' - Anyone can come) or sometimes after a noun for emphasis ('un día cualquiera' - any old day).

How do I say 'any' for plural things, like 'any books'?

Great question! In Spanish, you almost always just use 'cualquier' with a singular noun, even if the idea is plural. So, you'd say 'Toma cualquier libro' (Take any book). The technical plural form, 'cualesquier', is extremely rare and sounds very old-fashioned, so it's best to stick with 'cualquier' + singular noun.