qualche Italian · revision 37636

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=before 1294, Guittone d'Arezzo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈkwal.ke/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''qualche''' (singular only, invariable)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old spellings include ''qual che'', ''quale che'' and ''qualeche''.^(GDLI)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ In older Italian it could also go with a plural noun, and Zingarelli records an obsolete plural ''qualchi''.^(GDLI|15, 37)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|it|quale|che]], from a phrase meaning “whichever it may be”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto 1968|356) Nocentini explains that in indefinite contexts such as “in whatever place it may be” the verb was dropped, so that the phrase became “in some place”.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ [[fr|quelque]] is a parallel formation that went the same way,^(Nocentini 2010) and Meyer-Lübke lists the Italian word with [[fr|quelque]], [[es|cualque]] and [[pt|qualque]] among the compounds of [[la|quālis|t=of what kind]].^(REW 1935) Körting had explained the Romance forms instead from a Latin [[m|la|quālis]] combined with [[m|la|quam]].^(Körting 1907)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Guittone d'Arezzo, before 1294, in the sense “a few, not many”;^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) GRADIT dates the word to 1348–1353.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Early examples often have a plural noun after it: Petrarch writes ''di qualche lagrimetta o d'un sospiro'' (with some little tear or a sigh).^(GDLI|15, 37)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “a certain, some amount of”, before an abstract noun, is dated by DELI to Poliziano, before 1494.^(DELI 1999) The derivatives ''qualcuno'' (1354, Passavanti) and ''qualcosa'' (before 1400, Sacchetti) were formed from the same phrase.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ In old and regional usage the word was also an adverb meaning “about, roughly”: Luigi Pulci writes ''Eran qualche otto leghe cavalcate'' (they had ridden some eight leagues).^(Treccani 2011) Modern Italian uses it only with a singular noun, even when the sense is plural.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1294 – Guittone d'Arezzo uses it for “a few”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1348–1353 – GRADIT's date of first record.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1354 – ''Qualcuno'' is recorded in Passavanti.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1400 – ''Qualcosa'' appears in Sacchetti.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1494 – Poliziano uses it before an abstract noun for “a certain”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Determiner===

+ # [[m|en|some]], a [[m|en|few]]: an indefinite but small number (always with a singular noun): ''tra qualche settimana''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # One, some (a single indefinite person or thing): ''troveremo qualche scusa''; after the indefinite article it is emphatic, “some or other”: ''una qualche ragione ci sarà''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Before an abstract noun, a certain amount of: ''un pittore di qualche fama''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(archaic or regional)'' As an adverb, about, roughly.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[qualcosa]]

+ * [[qualcuno]]

+ * [[qualcheduno]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[quale]]

+ * [[che]]

+ * [[fr|quelque]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Fixed phrases include ''qualche volta'' (sometimes), ''da qualche parte'' (somewhere) and ''in qualche modo'' (somehow).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}