Spanish Relative Pronouns and Their Uses

que

Meaning: "that," "which," or "who". Use: Most common relative pronoun; refers to people, animals, places, things, or ideas. Used in: Restrictive and explanatory clauses. Example: El personaje _ protagoniza la película = "The character who stars in the movie".

quien / quienes

Meaning: "who" or "whom". Use: Only for people. Used in explanatory clauses or when preceded by a preposition (like a, de, con). Example: La vecina a _ Rocío le pide ayuda = "The neighbor whom Rocío asks for help".

el/la/los/las cual(es)

Meaning: "which" or "who" (formal). Use: Refers to people, animals, places, things, or ideas. Used in: Explanatory clauses or after a preposition. Common in Latin America. Example: María, _ vive en el mismo edificio = "María, who lives in the same building".

el/la/los/las que

Meaning: "which" or "who" (less formal). Use: Informal version of "el cual"; used in explanatory clauses or after a preposition. Example: María, _ vive en el mismo edificio = "María, who lives in the same building".

lo cual

Meaning: "which". Use: Refers to an entire previous sentence (not just one word). Example: Ella busca trabajo todos los días, _ le agota = "She looks for work every day, which exhausts her".

lo que

Meaning: "what" or "that which". Use: Refers to something general, abstract, or unknown; often at the start of sentences. Example: _ ella me dijo es cierto = "What she told me is true". ⚠️ Not usually interchangeable with "lo cual".

cuyo/a/os/as

Meaning: "whose". Use: Shows possession. Matches the thing being owned (not the owner). Example: Adrián, _ pasión es el fútbol = "Adrián, whose passion is soccer" ("pasión" is feminine and singular → "cuya").

donde

Meaning: "where". Use: Refers to a place. Example: El parque _ Adrián juega fútbol = "The park where Adrián plays soccer".