"any (no matter which)" in seven languages
Meaningany (no matter which)
Spanish
/kwalˈkjeɾ/
inherited
Cuál + quiera 'may want': 'whichever you like'. Cualquiera when it stands alone or after the noun.
French
/nɛ̃pɔʁt kɛl/
other source · ne + importe 'it doesn't matter' + quel 'which' (Latin QUĀLEM)
fem.: n'importe quelle
Italian
/kwalˈsiasi/
inherited
Qual + si sia 'which it may be'; invariable. Qualunque is a synonym.
Portuguese
/kwawˈkɛh/
inherited
Qual + quer 'wants'; plural quaisquer.
Romanian
/ˈoritʃe/
other source · ori- + ce 'what' (Latin QUID)
Invariable, like oricine 'anyone'.
Catalan
/kwalsəˈbɔl/
inherited
Qual + se vol 'one wants'; invariable.
English
/ˈɛni/
native English · Old English ǣnig, from ān 'one'
The Latin ancestor
QUĀLEM‘of what kind, which’
All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.
The story
Each sister builds 'any' on the question word 'which' (QUĀLIS): Spanish 'which you like', Italian 'which it may be', French 'no matter which'. English any is different: it means 'some' in questions, which the sisters say with another word.
English relatives: quality, qualify
Learn it
In a sentence
- esLlámame a cualquier hora.
- frAppelle-moi à n'importe quelle heure.
- itChiamami a qualsiasi ora.
- ptMe liga a qualquer hora.
- roSună-mă la orice oră.
- caTruca'm a qualsevol hora.
- enCall me at any time.