Indefinite pronouns in Spanish

By Marta Díaz on Thursday, February 5, 2026

Spanish pronouns play a key role in the Spanish language and are classified into different types. On this occasion, Enforex explains what indefinite pronouns in Spanish are and their importance in Spanish grammar. In this article, you will learn when they are used, see simple examples, and test your knowledge with a practical exercise at the end of the text. Keep reading and don't miss out!

What are indefinite pronouns in Spanish?

Indefinite pronouns in Spanish are used to refer to people, objects, or quantities in a general or imprecise way, without specifying exactly who or what is being referred to. They are very common in everyday communication and appear in both informal conversations and written texts.

These pronouns replace a noun, rather than accompanying it, and are used to talk about something that is not precisely defined. For this reason, they differ from indefinite determiners, which do accompany the noun.

Examples of indefinite pronouns in Spanish:

• Alguien dejó una mochila aquí (Someone left a backpack here)
• No escuché nada durante la reunión (I didn't hear anything during the meeting)

In both sentences, alguien and nada replace an unmentioned noun, so they function as indefinite Spanish pronouns.

Types of indefinite pronouns in Spanish

Although there are many Spanish indefinite pronouns, some are used more frequently than others. Below are the most common ones, organized according to their meaning, which you will hear in any type of everyday conversation while studying Spanish in Spain.

Indefinite Spanish pronouns referring to people or things

Spanish indefinite pronouns referring to people or things include: alguien, nadie, algo, nada, uno / una, otros / otras.

Example sentences:

• Nadie quiso participar en el debate (No one wanted to participate in the debate)
• Algo falta en esta explicación (Something is missing from this explanation)
• Otros prefieren trabajar desde casa (Others prefer to work from home)

Indefinite pronouns in Spanish of quantity

These pronouns vary according to gender and number. They are: mucho/a/os/as, poco/a/os/as, todo/a/os/as, bastante/s, demasiado/a/os/as, varios/as.

Examples:

• Demasiados opinan sin informarse (Too many people give their opinion without being informed)
• Pocas llegaron a tiempo (Few arrived on time)
• Todo salió mejor de lo esperado (Everything turned out better than expected)

Spanish indefinite pronouns of choice or distribution

The indefinite pronouns in Spanish of distribution are: cualquiera, ambos / ambas, ninguno / ninguna.

Examples:

• Cualquiera puede aprender con constancia (Anyone can learn with perseverance)
• Ambas opciones son válidas (Both options are valid)
• Ninguna funcionó correctamente (None worked properly)

How and when to use indefinite Spanish pronouns?

Although the use of these pronouns is intuitive, it is useful to keep in mind some basic rules.

Gender and number agreement

Many indefinite pronouns in Spanish agree with the noun they replace.

For example, in the sentence: “Había varias propuestas, pero pocas resultaron útiles” (There were several proposals, but few were useful), varias (several) and pocas (few) agree with proposals.

However, pronouns such as alguien, nadie, algo, and nada do not change form.

Use in affirmative and negative sentences

Some pronouns take on a different form depending on the type of sentence:

Examples:

• Necesito algo de ayuda (I need some help)
• No necesito nada (I don't need anything)
• Alguien preguntó por ti (Someone asked about you)
• No preguntó nadie (No one asked)

Position within the sentence

Indefinite pronouns in Spanish can be placed at the beginning, after the verb, or alongside other complements.

Examples:

• Nadie entendió la consigna (Nobody understood the instructions)
• No encontré a nadie (I didn't find anyone)
• Todo funcionó correctamente (Everything worked correctly)

More examples with indefinite pronouns in Spanish

• Alguien olvidó cerrar la ventana (Someone forgot to close the window)
• Nada es tan importante como la salud (Nothing is as important as health)
• Muchos intentan aprender idiomas online (Many people try to learn languages online)
• Pocos recuerdan esta norma (Few remember this rule)
• Cualquiera puede mejorar con práctica (Anyone can improve with practice)
• Ninguno de los libros estaba disponible (None of the books were available)
• Todo lo que aprendemos suma (Everything we learn adds up)
• Otros estudian mejor por la noche (Others study better at night)

Exercise: complete with the Spanish indefinite pronoun

If you have already internalized and understood everything we have told you in this article about indefinite pronouns in Spanish, it's time to put it into practice! Complete the following sentences with the indefinite Spanish pronoun you consider appropriate. You will find the answers at the end of the article.

• ________ dejó un mensaje en el contestador.
• No queda ________ por hacer hoy.
• ________ de mis compañeros habla francés.
• Hay ________ razones para seguir practicando.
• ________ puede equivocarse al principio.
• No conozco a ________ en esta ciudad.
• ________ salió como lo habíamos planeado.
• ________ decidieron viajar en verano.
• ________ es imposible con esfuerzo.
• ________ de estos ejercicios es más difícil.

As you have seen, indefinite pronouns in Spanish are essential for communicating naturally when we don't need to, or can't, be precise. Knowing them and how to use them correctly will improve both your understanding and your expression in Spanish.

Keep practicing with our examples and exercises or sign up for one of our intensive Spanish courses to deepen your knowledge of grammar while discovering Spain, its culture, and its people.

Answers: alguien, nada, alguno, varias, cualquiera, nadie, todo, algunos, nada, uno.