Algum vs Nenhum (Positive/Negative Indefinites)

Algum and nenhum are the paired indefinites that mean some / any and none / no. Unlike alguém, ninguém, algo, nada, tudo — which are invariable — algum and nenhum agree in gender and number with their referent. This makes them work very much like determiners (in fact they often are determiners, standing before a noun), but they also have full pronoun uses. This page covers both. Along the way we will look at the contracted forms nalgum, nalguma, nuns, numas that European Portuguese produces when em combines with algum, and the subtle differences between não ... nenhum and nenhum ... não word orders.

The broader principle behind algum / nenhum is the same that runs through the whole indefinite system: positive versus negative, and strict double negation. If you have read the main indefinite pronouns page, much of this will feel familiar. If you have not, this page will stand on its own.

The four forms of each word

Both algum and nenhum inflect on the same pattern: masculine or feminine, singular or plural.

Note that the vowels -um and -uma in algum, alguma, nenhum, nenhuma are nasal — pronounced roughly like English oong (IPA /ũ/). The nasality is marked by the written m at the end of algum / nenhum, and by the -um- sequence inside alguma / nenhuma. These words do not carry a tilde (~) — do not confuse them with words like não, mão, irmão which do. The plural forms alguns, algumas, nenhuns, nenhumas behave the same way — the nasality is preserved in speech.

Algum — some, any

Algum covers two English translations: some (in affirmative statements) and any (in questions and certain conditionals).

Algum in questions — meaning any

This is the most common context for algum. When asking whether someone has, sees, or knows any of something, Portuguese uses algum (with appropriate agreement).

Algum in affirmatives — meaning some

In affirmative statements, algum (more often the plural alguns / algumas) means some — an unspecified quantity or subset.

Algum as a pronoun — standing alone

Algum can stand alone as a pronoun, with the noun it refers to left implicit. The agreement still follows the implied noun.

Algum after the noun — an emphatic shift

Here is one of the subtle but important features of European Portuguese: algum placed after the noun takes on a strongly negative meaning, the equivalent of no ... at all or not any whatsoever. This is called the emphatic negative use. The sentence must also carry a negator.

This emphatic algum after the noun is more literary than nenhum in the same position but carries stronger emphasis. You will encounter it often in journalism and formal speech.

Nenhum — no, none, not any

Nenhum is the negative counterpart of algum. It means no (as a determiner before a noun) or none (as a pronoun). Its interaction with não follows the same rule as ninguém and nada: when nenhum comes after the verb, não must come before the verb; when nenhum comes before the verb, não is not used.

Nenhum after the verb — requires não

Nenhum before the verb — no não

Nenhum as a standalone pronoun

The contracted forms with em: nalgum, nalguma, nalguns, nalgumas

European Portuguese has a strong tendency to contract the preposition em with algum and its inflected forms. This contraction is optional in careful writing but extremely common in speech and ordinary prose. You should recognise it and learn to produce it.

Similar contractions happen with de + algum = dalgum, dalguma, dalguns, dalgumas, though these are somewhat less frequent in modern usage.

In contrast, nenhum does not contract with em. You always write em nenhum, em nenhuma, em nenhuns, em nenhumas — the two words stay apart.

Algum and nenhum with de — de algum, de nenhum

When algum or nenhum combines with the preposition de before a plural noun, they mean some of / none of a specific set.

This is the standard Portuguese way to say some of / none of. Note the contraction de + os = dos, de + as = das: nenhum dos, nenhuma das.

Algum versus the indefinite article um

Portuguese often has a choice between algum and the indefinite article um (both translating loosely as some or a). The difference is meaningful and worth pinning down.

• Um is simpler and more neutral — it just says a, one.
• Algum is more indefinite and emphasises the uncertainty of identity — some or other.

The algum version has a slight flavour of whatever, any, some kind of. In questions, especially, algum is often preferred where English uses any: tens algum lápis? (do you have any pencil?) is more natural than tens um lápis? for this meaning.

Nenhum for emphasis after the noun

Like algum, nenhum has an emphatic post-nominal position. This is very characteristic of formal European Portuguese and gives a heavier negative force than não tenho nenhum + noun.

The word order não + verb + noun + nenhum/nenhuma tends to sound more vehement than não + verb + nenhum/nenhuma + noun. Native speakers use this post-nominal position deliberately for emphasis. Learners often miss it and write in the flatter order — which is still correct, just less expressive.

Double negation with nenhum

The same strict double-negation rule applies as with ninguém and nada. Nenhum cannot coexist with algum in the same clause — once there is a negative, every indefinite in the clause must also be negative.

Note em lado nenhum (anywhere, literally in no place) — a stacked negative expression that is completely idiomatic and is the normal way to say anywhere in a negative context.

Algum que seja and nenhum que seja — any whatsoever

A useful construction for strong emphasis: algum / nenhum + que seja (literally some / no ... that there is). This is equivalent to English any ... whatsoever or any ... at all.

Common Mistakes

Key Takeaways

• Algum / alguma / alguns / algumas means some in affirmatives and any in questions. It agrees in gender and number.
• Nenhum / nenhuma / nenhuns / nenhumas means no / none. It agrees in gender and number, but the singular forms are almost always preferred even where English would use a plural.
• European Portuguese contracts em + algum → nalgum, em + alguma → nalguma, and so on. Use these in ordinary speech and writing.
• Em nenhum does not contract — always keep the two words apart.
• Algum placed after the noun plus a negator gives emphatic negative meaning: não tenho dúvida alguma (I have no doubt whatsoever).
• The double-negation rule is strict: if there is a negator anywhere in the clause, every indefinite in that clause must be negative.
• Once algum or nenhum stands alone as a pronoun, it still agrees with the implied noun.