How to Say "some people" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “some people” is “algunos” — use 'algunos' when referring to an unspecified subset or quantity of people, implying a selection from a larger group..
algunos
/al-GOO-nohs//alˈɣunos/
Examples
Algunos prefieren el té, mientras que otros prefieren el café.
Some prefer tea, while others prefer coffee.
¿Necesitas bolígrafos? Toma, aquí tienes algunos.
Do you need pens? Here, you can have some.
Algunos prefieren el verano, pero yo prefiero el invierno.
Some (people) prefer summer, but I prefer winter.
De todos mis amigos, solo algunos viven en mi ciudad.
Of all my friends, only a few of them live in my city.
Stands Alone
As a pronoun, 'algunos' doesn't describe a noun right next to it. It takes the place of a noun that is already understood from the conversation.
Refers to People or Things
This word can replace masculine plural nouns (like 'libros') or refer to a group of people ('algunos de mis amigos').
Confusing Adjective and Pronoun
Mistake: “Algunos de libros son interesantes.”
Correction: Algunos de los libros son interesantes. When you use 'de' (of), you almost always need 'los' or 'mis', etc. The simpler way is using it as an adjective: 'Algunos libros son interesantes'.
unos
/oo-nohs//ˈunos/
Examples
Unos amigos me invitaron a su casa.
Some friends invited me to their house.
¿Necesitas rotuladores? Tengo unos en mi estuche.
Do you need markers? I have some in my pencil case.
Unos dicen que es fácil, otros dicen que es difícil.
Some say it's easy, others say it's difficult.
De todos los coches, me gustan unos más que otros.
Of all the cars, I like some more than others.
Stands In for a Noun
When 'unos' is used by itself, it's doing the job of a noun you just mentioned. This helps you avoid repeating the same word over and over. For example: '¿Viste los pájaros? Sí, vi unos.' (Did you see the birds? Yes, I saw some.)
Confusing 'Unos' and 'Algunos'
Mistake: “Thinking there's a huge difference between 'unos' and 'algunos' when used as pronouns.”
Correction: In most everyday situations, 'unos' and 'algunos' mean 'some' and can be used interchangeably. 'Algunos' can sometimes feel slightly more specific, but it's a very subtle difference. Don't stress about it!
Distinguishing 'algunos' from 'unos' for 'some people'
Related Translations
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