An illustration showing three identical blue doors. A bright yellow spotlight shines intensely on only the middle door, symbolizing the specific selection implied by the relative pronoun 'cual'.

cual

/kwal/

PronounB1

which?referring to things,that?referring to things or concepts,who / whom?referring to people (more formal)

📝 In Action

Este es el puente bajo el cual pasamos.

This is the bridge under which we passed.

La reunión, durante la cual se discutieron temas importantes, duró tres horas.

The meeting, during which important topics were discussed, lasted three hours.

Hablé con los gerentes, los cuales confirmaron la decisión.

I spoke with the managers, who confirmed the decision.

Recibí varias ofertas, entre las cuales elegí la más interesante.

I received several offers, among which I chose the most interesting one.

Word Connections

Synonyms

que (that, which, who)
quien (who, whom)

Common Collocations

el cual / la cual – which, who
los cuales / las cuales – which, who (plural)
por lo cual – for which reason, which is why, therefore
tal cual – as is, just like that
cada cual – each one

Idioms & Expressions

cada cual a lo suyo – To each their own.

💡 Grammar Points

The 'Which' That Needs a Buddy

Think of 'cual' as a more specific version of 'que' ('that/which'). It almost always needs a buddy word before it: 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las'. This buddy has to match the person or thing you're talking about.

Perfect for Use After Short Words (Prepositions)

You'll often see 'cual' used after short connecting words like 'con' (with), 'en' (in), 'sin' (without), or 'por' (for). For example, 'la caja en la cual...' (the box in which...). This makes your sentence super clear.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting its Buddy Word

Mistake: "La casa en cual nací es azul."

Correction: La casa en la cual nací es azul. Because 'casa' is feminine and singular ('la casa'), 'cual' needs 'la' as its buddy.

Using it When 'Que' is Better

Mistake: "El coche cual compré es rojo."

Correction: El coche que compré es rojo. When you're just adding simple information and there's no little word like 'en' or 'con' before it, 'que' is usually the more natural choice.

⭐ Usage Tips

Sounding More Formal

Using 'el cual' or 'la cual' instead of 'que' can make your writing or speech sound more formal and precise. It's a great tool for essays or professional emails.

Avoiding Confusion

In a long sentence with multiple things mentioned, 'el/la cual' is fantastic for pointing back to exactly what you mean, avoiding any mix-ups. Example: 'El informe del cliente, el cual revisé ayer...' (The client's report, which I reviewed yesterday...). It's clear you reviewed the report, not the client.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cual

Question 1 of 2

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence: 'Las amigas con ___ fui de viaje son de Argentina.'

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cualquier(any) - adjective

cualquiera(any, anyone) - pronoun/adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the real difference between 'cual' and 'qué' or 'cuál'?

Great question! They look similar but do totally different jobs. 'Cual' (no accent) connects ideas ('the house in which...'). 'Qué' (with an accent) asks 'What?'. And 'Cuál' (with an accent) asks 'Which one?'. The accent mark is the key to knowing it's a question word.

Do I always have to use 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las' before 'cual'?

Almost always, yes. When 'cual' is used to refer back to something, it needs one of those little 'buddy' words to link it properly. The main exceptions are in fixed phrases like 'tal cual' (as is) or 'cada cual' (each one).

Can I use 'quien' instead of 'el cual' for people?

Yes, absolutely! For people, you often have a choice. 'Mis hermanos, los cuales viven en México...' and 'Mis hermanos, quienes viven en México...' both mean 'My brothers, who live in Mexico...'. Using 'quienes' is very common and sounds natural.