In a previous lesson, we focused on the relative pronouns el que, la que, los que and las que, which usually mean "the one" or "ones that" or "who." This time, we will introduce the remaining relative pronouns in Spanish, learning their English equivalents and how to use them in context. 

banner4 PLACEHOLDER

Relative Pronouns in Review

Relative pronouns in English include "that," "which," "who," etc. in phrases like "the girl who is wearing black," "the house that we bought" and "the truck, which is brand new, broke down already." As we see, these words connect relative clauses like "is wearing black," "we bought" and "is brand new" to let the listener know what or whom specifically is being referred to and/or reveal qualities about them. Let's take a look at the equivalents of these terms in Spanish. 

Que

The relative pronoun que is the most commonly seen relative pronoun. It can refer to people or things and mean that, which, who or whom. Regardless of the number and gender of the antecedent (what the pronoun refers to), the relative pronoun que remains the same. Let's look at several examples from the Yabla Spanish video library that describe both objects and people and are translated in some of the aforementioned ways.

Hoy os quiero contar un poquito sobre el último libro que he leído.

Today, I want to tell you a little bit about the last book that I've read.

Caption 8, Adriana La lectura - Part 2

 Play Caption

y me inclino bastante por trabajar el realismo mágico, que es un género. 

and I'm quite inclined to work in magic realism, which is a genre.

Caption 4, Julia Silva Su cortometraje "Crisálida"

 Play Caption

Necesito información sobre la mujer que acaba de entrar.

I need information about the woman who just went in.

Caption 32, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa Capítulo 4 - Part 11

 Play Caption

Refer to this lesson on the many uses of the word que in Spanish to hear this usage contrasted with many others.

El cual, la cual, los cuales, las cuales

Like el que, la que, los que and las que, the relative pronouns el cual, la cual, los cuales and las cuales must agree with their antecedent in terms of number and gender. Since this set of pronouns can refer to objects or people, they can be translated as which or who. Let's examine an example of each one, noting the agreement between the relative pronoun and its antecedent. 

El tercer sentido es el sentido del gusto, con el cual podemos percibir el sabor de las cosas

The third sense is the sense of taste with which we can perceive the flavor of the things

Captions 33-34, Carlos explica Los cinco sentidos - Part 2

 Play Caption

Conocí a mi... la mamá de mis hijos, la cual tenía familia en Alemania

I met my... the mother of my children, who had family in Germany,

Captions 10-11, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Fernando y el mariachi

 Play Caption

y también los Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez, los cuales son muy famosos

and also, the Cecilio Rodríguez Gardens, which are very famous

Captions 27-28, Aprendiendo con Zulbany Visitando Madrid

 Play Caption

es decir, de opiniones en las cuales emitimos un juicio de valor sobre algo o alguien.

in other words, about opinions in which we cast a value judgment about something or someone.

Captions 11-12, Carlos explica Cómo expresar opiniones en español - Part 3

 Play Caption

Were you able to pick out the antecedents in each sentence and see how their corresponding relative pronouns agree in number and gender? They are: el gusto/el cual (masculine singular), la mamá de mis hijos/la cual (feminine singular), los Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez/los cuales (masculine plural) and (las) opiniones/las cuales (feminine singular).

banner3 PLACEHOLDER

Quien, quienes

In contrast to the relative pronouns we have seen thus far, quien and quienes can only refer to people. While gender does not matter, quien must be used for just one person whereas quienes is used for more than one. As we see below, the English equivalents of quien and quienes are who and whom.

La una que es la persona quien conduce el bote, que se le dice el lanchero,

[Number] one is the person who drives the boat, who is called the boatman,

Caption 13, Instinto de conservación Gorgona - Part 7

 Play Caption

Los corsarios eran marinos en su mayoría respetables a quienes los monarcas otorgaban las patentes de corso,

The corsairs were, for the most part, respectable sailors to whom the monarchs granted letters of marque,

Captions 57-58, Viajando con Fermín Pasajes (Pasaia) - Part 3

 Play Caption

Note that this use differs from the use of the word quién (with an accent) as a Spanish question word. 

Lo que, lo cual

In contrast to the relative pronouns we have seen thus far, lo que (what, that, which, that which) and lo cual (which) refer not to an antecedent noun but to an entire antecedent clause. Since these clauses include nouns and verbs and entail concepts and situations, gender is not applicable. Keep in mind that while lo que may refer to something stated explicitly in the sentence or something that is not, el cual must refer to something within the sentence. With this in mind, let's see a few examples:

Pero realmente, lo que hice fue dedicarme a buscar la tierra perfecta.

But really, what I did was devote myself to looking for the perfect land.

Captions 56-57, Amaya Recordando - Part 2

 Play Caption

¿Qué era lo que decía, mamita?

What was it that it said, Mommy?

Caption 16, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 1 - Part 11

 Play Caption

podrán ver objetos colgados por todos lados, lo cual crea un ambiente bastante colorido y surreal. 

you'll be able to see objects hanging everywhere, which creates a quite colorful and surreal atmosphere.

Captions 54-55, Viajando con Carlos Andrés Carne de Res

 Play Caption