quienquiera
kyen-KYEH-rah
📝 In Action
Quienquiera que haya tomado mi libro, debe devolverlo inmediatamente.
B2Whoever took my book must return it immediately.
La ley protegerá a quienquiera que denuncie la corrupción.
C1The law will protect anyone who reports corruption.
El premio será para quienquiera que demuestre el mayor esfuerzo.
C1The prize will go to whoever demonstrates the greatest effort.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Use the Subjunctive
Because 'quienquiera' refers to an unknown or hypothetical person, the verb that follows must be in the special verb form (the subjunctive). This is necessary to show uncertainty.
The Optional 'que'
You almost always need to follow 'quienquiera' with the word 'que' before the next verb, like in the examples: 'Quienquiera que llame...' ('Whoever calls...').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Normal Verb Form (Indicative)
Mistake: "Quienquiera que *llama*..."
Correction: Quienquiera que *llame*... (The verb *llamar* must change to the subjunctive form *llame*.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The Plural Form
If you need to talk about multiple unknown people, use the plural form: 'quienesquiera.' Example: 'Quienesquiera que lo sepan deben hablar' (Whoever knows it must speak up).
Formal Tone
In casual conversation, Spanish speakers often use the simpler 'el que' or 'cualquier persona que' instead of 'quienquiera.'
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quienquiera
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'quienquiera'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'quienquiera' always followed by the word 'que'?
Almost always. While you might occasionally see 'quienquiera' directly followed by a verb, using 'quienquiera que' is the standard and safest way to connect it to the rest of the sentence.
If I am talking about multiple people, how does 'quienquiera' change?
It changes to 'quienesquiera.' Remember, this word is quite formal, so you would use the plural form 'quienesquiera que' followed by the plural subjunctive verb.