Are you familiar with the Spanish relative pronouns el que, la que, los que and las que? Do you know how to use them? Today's lesson will explain the differences and similarities between these four Spanish phrases, all of which are most typically translated as "the one" or "ones that" or "who."
Like other relative pronouns, el que, la que, los que and las que are used to introduce relative clauses, which provide more information about a noun or noun phrase. Let's see an example:
Al principio, las traducciones al español son las que serán visibles para los estudiantes.
At first, the translations to Spanish are the ones that will be visible for the students.
Captions 39-40, Tutoriales de Yabla Cómo crear clases
Play Caption
Here, las que is used to introduce the relative clause serán visibles para los estudiantes, making it clear that the "the ones" referenced are those that "will be visible for the students." Note that, in this case, las que is chosen because it refers to the feminine plural noun las traducciones (the translations) as these relative pronouns must agree with the nouns they refer to in terms of number and gender as broken down below:
el que ("the one that" or "who" for masculine singular nouns)
la que ("the one that" or "who" for feminine singular nouns)
los que ("the ones that" or "who" or "those" for masculine plural or mixed nouns)
las que ("the ones that" or "who" or "those" for feminine plural nouns)
The noun to which the relative pronoun refers is known as an antecedent or referent. Be aware that while antecedents are sometimes mentioned explicitly in sentences containing the relative pronouns el que, la que, los que and las que (as was las traducciones in the aforementioned example), in other cases, the speaker understands what is being referenced based on the previous conversation. Let's look at each of these relative pronouns in sentences with and without antecedents.
Antecedent:
Ese dato es el que necesitamos, hermano.
That piece of information is the one that we need, brother.
Caption 27, Confidencial: El rey de la estafa Capítulo 4 - Part 12
Play Caption
Here, we see that the relative pronoun el que refers to the masculine singular antecedent dato (piece of information).
No Antecedent:
¿El que me había robado a Cata?
The one who had stolen Cata from me?
Caption 5, Los Años Maravillosos Capítulo 11 - Part 2
Play Caption
Although there is no antecedent in the sentence, we know from the previous dialogue that the speaker is referring to a boy named Sergio Casas, warranting the choice of the singular masculine el que. Remember that even though the third person singular male pronoun él has an accent to distinguish it from el meaning "the," the relative pronoun el que should not be written with an accent, even when referring to a specific male person.
Antecedent:
Yo soy la que le da el toque especial al grupo.
I'm the one who gives the group that special touch.
Caption 21, X6 1 - La banda - Part 6
Play Caption
In this case, the female speaker's use of the word Yo (I) sheds light on her choice of the feminine singular la que.
No Antecedent:
La que cantaste.
The one you sang.
Caption 6, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Karla y Fernando hablan de música
Play Caption
Here, it is clear to the listener based on the subjects' conversation topic that the speakers is referring to una canción (a song).
Antecedent:
clientes como usted son los que necesitamos.
clients like you are the ones we need.
Caption 49, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 2 - Part 10
Play Caption
The inclusion of the noun clientes leaves no doubt as to what los que refers to.
No Antecedent:
Los que viven en sus casas siempre andan por su misma zona
The ones who live in their homes always roam around their same area
Caption 25, Fermín y los gatos Mis gatas vecinas
Play Caption
Since gatos (cats) is the subject of the video, we understand that los que refers to them. Let's see an additional example where los que is translated as "those":
Para los que no me conocen, mi nombre es Karina García
For those who don't know me, my name is Karina García,
Caption 2, Venezolanos por el mundo Karina en Barcelona - Part 2
Play Caption
Antecedent:
cosas parecidas a las que hacemos con los textos en papel.
things similar to the ones we do with text on paper.
Caption 13, Club de las ideas Libertexto
Play Caption
The feminine plural noun cosas is stated prior to las que to let us know the antecedent.
No Antecedent:
Y las que te faltan por conocer.
And the ones that you still have to experience.
Caption 40, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 1 - Part 10
Play Caption
Interestingly, las que also refers to las cosas (the things) here, which came up one sentence prior in this conversation.
Note that when the relative pronouns el que, los que, la que and las que are preceded by prepositions, they can be translated with a vast array of terms such as "which," "that," "when, "where," "who" or "whom," dpending upon what they refer to. Let's take a look at some examples where we have also highlighted the prepositions that accompany these relative pronouns.
El material con el que fue construido
The material with which it was built
Caption 14, Paseando con Karen Bienvenidos a Parque Fundidora
Play Caption
Madrid es una ciudad en la que se respira historia.
Madrid is a city where one breathes history.
Caption 19, Con Marta por Madrid Lavapiés y la corrala - Part 1
Play Caption
Another possible translation in this example would be "in which."
Cada noche escribo en él las cosas por las que estoy agradecida.
Every night, I write in it the things that I'm grateful for.
Captions 42-43, Aprendiendo con Silvia Las emociones - Part 13
Play Caption
Although "for which" could be an alternative, more formal translation, "that" is the more colloquial choice.
Ha habido días en los que había más de treinta incendios activos,
There have been days on which there were more than thirty active fires
Caption 48, Soledad Incendios
Play Caption
You probably inferred that "when" could substitute "on which" in this utterance. Let's see one more:
como una persona muy distinta a mí y con la que yo no podría tener una conversación distendida
as a very different person from me and with whom I wouldn't be able to have a relaxed conversation
Captions 54-55, Soledad Los prejuicios
Play Caption
That's all for today. We hope that this lesson has helped you to better understand the somewhat tricky relative pronouns el que, la que, los que and las que and their different uses and translations, and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments.
When traveling in a foreign country, you might want to order a glass of wine with dinner or have a beer with friends. But do you know how to say "wine" and "beer" in Spanish? In this lesson, we will teach you the words for those bebidas (beverages) as well as the names for several of the most popular liquors... just in case you want to have a trago (alcoholic beverage) instead!
The standard word for beer in Spanish is cerveza:
"Llevo tres cervezas y todavía tengo sed",
"I've had three beers, and I'm still thirsty,"
Caption 34, Aprendiendo con Silvia Significados, usos y expresiones con "quedar" - Part 6
Play Caption
The word for wine in Spanish is vino. Let's hear it in action:
hay vino blanco.
there's white wine.
Caption 24, Ariana Cena especial
Play Caption
As we just heard, vino blanco is "white wine" in Spanish. Now, let's find out how to say "red wine," which might be different than you thought!
Vino tinto es como se refiere al vino rojo en el resto del mundo, aquí en España.
"Vino tinto" is the name here in Spain for what's called "red wine" in the rest of the world.
Caption 50, Amaya Cata de vinos
Play Caption
El vino rosado puede venir de variedades blancas mezcladas con tintas
Rosé wine can come from white varieties mixed with red ones
Caption 14, Feria de Vinos Españoles en Londres Bodegas Quiroga de Pablo
Play Caption
Rosé wine can also be referred to in Spanish as rose, rosé, or simply rosado.
"Sparkling wine" is the more general category for bubbly wines like champagne, cava, and prosecco. Let's learn how to say a few of these terms in Spanish:
El cava es el vino espumoso de España que sigue el mismo método que... que el champán,
Cava is the sparkling wine from Spain that follows the same method as... as champagne,
Captions 13-14, Feria de Vinos Españoles en Londres Bodegas Castell D'Age
Play Caption
Alternatively, the words champaña or champagne itself may be used for "champagne."
Let's hear the names for many of the world's most popular types of liquor in the context of videos from our Spanish library.
Está Elisa elaborando unas trufitas de coñac
Elisa is making some little cognac truffles
Caption 9, Horno San Onofre El Chocolate
Play Caption
Su mujer era Ginebra,
His wife was Guinevere,
Caption 42, El Aula Azul Adivina personajes históricos - Part 1
Play Caption
Although in this clip, Ginebra is the translation for the name Guinevere, the word ginebra in Spanish also means "gin."
de Tequila su mezcal
from Tequila, its mezcal
Caption 45, El Ausente Acto 2 - Part 3
Play Caption
Lo que no puedes dejar de probar si vas a Cuba es el Ron Santiago,
What you can't miss trying if you go to Cuba is Ron Santiago [Santiago Rum],
Caption 24, Viajando con Fermín La Feria Internacional de los Países de Fuengirola - Part 3
Play Caption
Con un... -Claro, claro, sí. -la botella de tequila.
With a... -Of course, of course, yes. -the bottle of tequila.
Caption 40, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Karla y Fernando hablan de música
Play Caption
Mis pensamientos son tan puros como vodka caro
My thoughts are as pure as expensive vodka
Caption 5, Joselo Sobriedad
Play Caption
¡No tomo whisky! -¡Pero hacete hombre de una vez, che!
I don't drink whiskey! -But become a man once and for all!
Caption 23, Muñeca Brava 2 Venganza - Part 3
Play Caption
And, as subcategories of whiskey, we have "Scotch," which can be known as whisky/güisgui escosés, or simply escosés and "bourbon" (bourbon, borbón, whisky/güisgui americano or borbónico).
Of course, in addition to these internationally renowned liquors, it might be interesting to try local favorites like fernet in Argentina, pisco in Peru, cocuy in Venezuela or aguardiente in Colombia, just to name a few, either alone or in the context of cócteles (cocktails).
Armed with this information, we hope you now feel equipped to order your favorite alcoholic beverage in Spanish, should you choose to.
Just remember to do so in moderation (so as not to have to describe your hangover in Spanish), and write us with any of your comments, questions, or suggestions. ¡Salud (Cheers)!
French
German
Italian
Chinese
English
English 
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Português
