In a recent lesson I showed you how to use Ninguém (no one) correctly in Portuguese and gave you tips on how to avoid mistakes.

Today I will show you how to say Someone/Anyone in Portuguese. It’s easy.

Here is the video lesson:

Alguém = Someone

The examples below show how to use Alguém (someone) in context. Here are two things to notice:

We use Alguém in affirmations and in questions
We don’t use Alguém with a negative word. If you need to say that there isn’t anyone there, you need to use Ninguém, as in example 5 below.

Essa caixa está muito pesada. Alguém precisa me ajudar, por favor.

Translation:

This box is very heavy. Someone needs to help me, please.

Alguém deixou esse casaco aqui.

Translation:

Someone left this coat here.

Alguém está com fome?

Translation:

Is anyone hungry?

Alguém pode me dizer o que aconteceu?

Translation:

Can someone tell me what happened?

Dani: As luzes estão apagadas. Você acha que tem alguém em casa?

José: Não, acho que não tem ninguém em casa.

Translation:

Dani: The lights are off. Do you think there is anyone home?

José: No, I don’t think there is anyone home.

Qualquer pessoa: When Anyone is not Alguém

Sometimes, Alguém translates as Anyone, as was the case in examples 3 and 5 above.

However, this is not always the case. When the meaning of “anyone” is that any person can do something, you need to say qualquer pessoa.

See the example below:

Dani: Você acha que qualquer pessoa do seu time pode fazer esse trabalho?

José: Sim, qualquer pessoa pode fazer isso.

Translation:

Dani: Do you think that anyone in your team can do this job?

José: Yes, anyone can do this.

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