кто-то

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Russian

Etymology

Univerbation of кто́ (któ) +‎ -то (-to).

Pronunciation

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Pronoun

кто-то (kto-tom

  1. (indefinite pronoun) somebody, someone (implies that one has a certain person in mind, but does not know exactly who)
    Кто́-то здесь был?Któ-to zdesʹ byl?Someone has been here?
    • 1904, Леонид Андреев, “Отрывок четвёртый”, in Красный смех; English translation from Alexandra Linden, transl., The Red Laugh, London: T. Fisher, 1905:
      Кто-то вздохнул. Кто-то судорожно хрустнул пальцами, кто-то засмеялся, кто-то вскочил и быстро заходил вокруг стола.
      Kto-to vzdoxnul. Kto-to sudorožno xrustnul palʹcami, kto-to zasmejalsja, kto-to vskočil i bystro zaxodil vokrug stola.
      Someone sighed; someone convulsively cracked his fingers; someone laughed; someone jumped up and began walking quickly round the table.

Usage notes

  • The particle -то (-to) imparts a sense of indefiniteness similar to English some. The forms of кто-то are associated with affirmatives (like someone), while кто-нибудь is usually associated with questions and negatives (like anybody).

Declension

See also