Qu'un (en. That a)

/ky ɛ̃/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

pronoun

Used to mean 'someone.'

There is only one choice to make.

Il y a qu'un seul choix à faire.

Can be used to refer to a person without specifying who.

If someone shows up, we will listen to them.

Qu'un se présente, nous l'écouterons.

Can express a generality or a condition.

If someone made a mistake, that happens to everyone.

Qu'un se soit trompé, cela arrive à tout le monde.

Contraction of 'que' and 'un' in Old French.

someone else

refers to another person

qu'un d'autre

only one

refers to a single person or unit

qu'un seul

someday

an indefinite day in the future

qu'un jour

someone

Unspecified or unknown individual.

quelqu'un

nothing

Term used to mean 'no thing.'

rien

all

Refers to a complete set of individuals.

tous

A person in an informal context.

He's just a nice guy.

C'est qu'un type sympa.

Used to refer to someone in a derogatory way.

Look at that guy, he doesn't even know what to do.

Regarde ce qu'un, il ne sait même pas quoi faire.