A storybook illustration showing a little girl holding a single, vibrant red rose. A large, friendly golden retriever dog sits next to her, looking up at the rose, symbolizing a possessive relationship.

cuya

COO-yah

Relative AdjectiveB2

whose?Used before a feminine singular noun to show possession

Also:of which?When the possessed item is feminine singular

📝 In Action

Esa es la escritora, cuya última novela fue un éxito.

That is the writer, whose latest novel was a success.

La mesa, cuya pata está rota, necesita reparación.

The table, whose leg is broken, needs repairing.

Visitamos la ciudad, cuya historia es fascinante.

We visited the city, whose history is fascinating.

💡 Grammar Points

Agreement Rule

The word 'cuya' must match the gender and number of the thing being possessed (the noun immediately following it), not the person or thing doing the possessing. Since it ends in -a, it is only used with feminine singular nouns.

Connecting Ideas

'Cuya' helps link a person or thing you just mentioned to something they own or are associated with. It replaces the need for separate sentences like 'The house. Its door is blue.'

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Agreement

Mistake: "El artista, cuyo obra es moderna, es famoso. (Using 'cuyo' when the possessed item is feminine.)"

Correction: El artista, cuya obra es moderna, es famoso. ('Obra' is feminine, so use 'cuya.')

Using Articles

Mistake: "La mujer, cuya la casa es grande. (Adding 'la' after 'cuya'.)"

Correction: La mujer, cuya casa es grande. (Unlike English, you never use an article like 'el' or 'la' immediately after 'cuyo/a/os/as.')

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Tone

Using 'cuyo/a/os/as' often sounds more formal or literary than using alternative constructions like 'del que' or 'de la cual' in conversational Spanish.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cuya

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'cuya'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cuyo(whose (masculine singular)) - relative adjective

cuyas(whose (feminine plural)) - relative adjective

cuyos(whose (masculine plural)) - relative adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cuya' a question word?

No. Unlike English 'whose,' 'cuya' is only used to connect two parts of a statement. The Spanish question word for 'whose' is '¿De quién?' ('Whose book is this?' is '¿De quién es este libro?').

When should I use 'cuya' instead of 'de la que'?

'Cuya' is usually shorter and more direct, especially in writing. 'De la que' (or similar phrases) is often used more in very casual speech, but 'cuya' is preferred when you want to sound clear and formal.