Questions & Answers about Hvem som helst kan ringe oss i kveld.
Why is there a som in hvem som helst? Can I just say hvem helst?
In modern standard Norwegian, som is part of a fixed pattern: question word + som helst = “any … at all.” So you normally say:
- hvem som helst (anyone)
- hva som helst (anything)
- hvor som helst (anywhere)
- når som helst (anytime)
- hvilken/hvilket/hvilke som helst (any … + noun)
You may occasionally see hvem helst in older texts or certain dialects, but the safe, standard form is with som: hvem som helst.
Is hvem som helst the same as “everyone”?
Not exactly.
- hvem som helst emphasizes that there are no restrictions: “anyone (who wants to).”
- alle means “everyone (all people).”
So:
- Hvem som helst kan ringe oss i kveld. = Anyone is free to call us tonight (open invitation).
- Alle kan ringe oss i kveld. = Everyone can call us tonight (all people have that ability/permission).
They often overlap in meaning, but the nuance is different.
What’s the word order here? Does the V2 rule apply?