Master German Indefinite Pronouns (Indefinitpronomen)

Introduction

German indefinite pronouns, known as Indefinitpronomen, play a crucial role in daily communication. They refer to nonspecific persons or things and are used when the identity or quantity is unknown, irrelevant, or generalized. Mastering these pronouns enhances your fluency and understanding of the German language.

Understanding German Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns replace nouns without specifying exactly who or what they are. They allow you to talk about people or things in a general way. In German, indefinite pronouns can change form based on gender, number, and case.

Usage of German Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are used when you want to refer to someone or something without being specific. They are often employed in situations where the exact identity is unknown, unimportant, or when making general statements.

Key Points

• Refer to nonspecific people or things.
• Can change form based on case, gender, and number.
• Essential for expressing general ideas or questions.

Examples of German Indefinite Pronouns

Here are some example sentences using indefinite pronouns, along with their English translations:

German Sentence	English Translation
Jemand hat an der Tür geklopft.	Someone knocked on the door.
Ich sehe nichts.	I see nothing.
Man sollte täglich Wasser trinken.	One should drink water daily.
Niemand war zu Hause.	No one was at home.
Hast du etwas zu sagen?	Do you have something to say?
Alle sind eingeladen.	Everyone is invited.
Etwas ist passiert.	Something happened.
Keiner weiß die Antwort.	No one knows the answer.
Ich habe nichts gehört.	I heard nothing.
Jeder kann teilnehmen.	Anyone can participate.

List of Common German Indefinite Pronouns

Below is a comprehensive list of frequently used German indefinite pronouns along with their English translations:

Indefinite Pronoun	English Translation
man	one, you
jemand	someone
niemand	no one
jeder	everyone, each
alle	all, everyone
irgendjemand	anyone
irgendwer	someone or other
etwas	something
nichts	nothing
alles	everything
einige	some
manche	some, many a
ein bisschen	a little
ein wenig	a little
irgendetwas	anything
irgendwas	something or other
kein	no, none
irgendein	any
mehrere	several
viele	many
wenige	few
andere	others
beide	both
sämtliche	all

Declension of German Indefinite Pronouns

Some indefinite pronouns change their form based on case, gender, and number. Below are declension tables for key indefinite pronouns, following the case order: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative.

Declension of “man” (one)

The indefinite pronoun “man” is impersonal and primarily used in the nominative case. It does not change form and has no plural. For other cases, forms of “einem” and “einen” are used impersonally.

Case	Form	English
Nominative	man	one
Genitive	—	—
Dative	einem	one
Accusative	einen	one

You can read more about the German Indefinite Pronoun “man” in detail: here.

Declension of “jemand” (someone)

Case	Form	English
Nominative	jemand	someone
Genitive	jemandes	of someone
Dative	jemandem	to someone
Accusative	jemanden	someone

Declension of “niemand” (no one)

Case	Form	English
Nominative	niemand	no one
Genitive	niemandes	of no one
Dative	niemandem	to no one
Accusative	niemanden	no one

Declension of “jeder” (everyone, each)

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	jeder	jede	jedes
Genitive	jedes	jeder	jedes
Dative	jedem	jeder	jedem
Accusative	jeden	jede	jedes

Declension of “kein” (no, none)

“Kein” is declined like the indefinite article “ein”.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	kein	keine	kein	keine
Genitive	keines	keiner	keines	keiner
Dative	keinem	keiner	keinem	keinen
Accusative	keinen	keine	kein	keine

Declension of “etwas” (something) and “nichts” (nothing)

“Etwas” and “nichts” are invariable and do not decline.

Conclusion

Understanding German indefinite pronouns is essential for effective communication. They enable you to refer to people and things in a general sense, without specifying exact details. Familiarity with their usage and declension will significantly improve your German language proficiency. For more on German pronouns, check out our article on German Personal Pronouns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are indefinite pronouns in German?

Indefinite pronouns are words that refer to nonspecific people or things. They are used when the exact identity or quantity is unknown or unimportant.

Do indefinite pronouns change form in German?

Yes, some indefinite pronouns are declined based on case, gender, and number.

How do I know when to use an indefinite pronoun?

Use indefinite pronouns when you want to refer to people or things generally without specifying who or what they are.

Is “man” an indefinite pronoun?

Yes, “man” is an indefinite pronoun used to make general statements equivalent to “one” or “you” in English. It is primarily used in the nominative case.