Relative pronouns in Spanish: basic rules you need to know

In this quick lesson, we will explain all the basic rules on how and when to use relative pronouns in Spanish.

• What are relative pronouns in Spanish
• How to use que in Spanish
• 'Pronombres relativos': Spanish gender and number

What are relative pronouns in Spanish

There are nine main relative pronouns in Spanish: que, el/la que, lo/la que, quien, el/la cual, lo/la cual, cuyo/a, cuando and donde. Some of these have different gendered and plural forms, but all of them do the same thing:they introduce a relative clause, which includes a description or extra information about a person or object. 

Compare the following phrases:

• Te conté de esta mujer. Es muy simpática. (I told you about this woman. She is very nice).
• Esta mujer es la que te conté que es muy simpática. (This woman is the one that I told you is very nice).

In the first example, extra information about the woman is given in a separate sentence. In the second example, two ideas are linked together with the help of the relative clause. La que te conté makes the sentence more complex and informative.

How to use 'pronombres relativos' in Spanish

Using relative pronouns is one example of how the grammar differs from English. In Spanish, the use of relative pronouns often depends on the gender and number of the preceding noun, also known as the antecedent. Here are examples:

• El chico del que te hablé es mi hermano. (The boy who I told you about is my brother.)
• La chica de la que te hablé es mi hermana. (The girl who I told you about is my sister.)

In the first sentence, the antecedent el chico is masculine, so the relative pronoun el que is too. In the second, the antecedent is feminine, requiring the feminine relative pronoun la que.

How to use 'que' in Spanish

Spanish relative pronouns frequently include que. Let’s look at the differences. 

1. que

Que is by far the most widely used relative pronoun in Spanish. It can mean ‘who’, ‘that’ and ‘which’ and describes people, animals and things. 

• Ese es el día que más recuerdo. (That is the day (that/which) I remember the most).

1. El que / la que / los que / las que

These pronouns differ from que in that they require a preposition before them. 

• Esta es la persona sobre la que escribió. (This is the person about whom he/she wrote). 

1. Lo que

Lo que is used when there is no antecedent in the sentence. The neutral form lo is default.

• No recuerdo lo que me dijo. (I don't remember what he/she told me).

'Pronombres relativos': Spanish gender and number

Some Spanish relative pronouns depend on the number and gender, while others don’t. Let’s study some examples.

1. el que

El que ('he who/that/which' in English) has four different forms according to the antecedent’s gender and number.

1. quien

Some pronombres relativos in Spanish don’t change their forms. In this way, quien (“who”/“whom”) is the same for both genders. But, it does have singular and plural forms.

• El hombre a quien escribí nos ayudará. (The man to whom I wrote will help us).
• Los hombres a quienes escribí nos ayudarán. (The men to whom I wrote will help us).

1. donde, cuando

The relative pronouns describing time (cuando) and place (donde) don’t change depending on the number or gender of the antecedent. 

• El invierno pasado, cuando nevó mucho, nos divertimos mucho. (Last winter, when it snowed a lot, we had lots of fun).

Improved grammar with relative pronouns

Even if relative pronouns in Spanish are logical, there are quite a few grammar rules to learn. One idea is to focus on writing first, which will build up confidence for speaking. An online language course can help you consolidate your knowledge and give you a chance to practice relative pronouns in Spanish out loud with an instructor. Whether in class or doing writing exercises, relative pronouns take your Spanish grammar to the next level. Make sure you find some time to practice them!