quién
/kyen/
Just like this detective is asking "who did it?", 'quién' is the word you use to ask about a person.
quién (Pronoun)
📝 In Action
¿Quién es esa persona?
A1Who is that person?
¿Con quién vas al cine?
A1Who are you going to the movies with?
No sé quién llamó por teléfono.
A2I don't know who called on the phone.
¿Quiénes son tus actores favoritos?
A2Who are your favorite actors?
💡 Grammar Points
The Accent Mark is a Question Signal
The little line over the 'e' (la tilde) is a huge clue. If you see 'quién', it's always part of a question, either direct (¿...?) or indirect (I don't know who...).
One Person or Many? 'Quién' vs. 'Quiénes'
If you're asking about one person, use 'quién'. If you think the answer might be two or more people, use the plural form 'quiénes'. For example: '¿Quién es tu profesor?' (one teacher) vs. '¿Quiénes son tus profesores?' (multiple teachers).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Quién' for Things
Mistake: "Me gusta la casa. ¿Quién es el color?"
Correction: Me gusta la casa. ¿Qué color es? ('Quién' is strictly for people. For things, ideas, or concepts, always use 'qué'.)
Forgetting the Plural 'Quiénes'
Mistake: "¿Quién son ellos?"
Correction: ¿Quiénes son ellos? (If the verb 'son' tells you it's about multiple people, the question word needs to be plural too.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking 'Whose?'
To ask who owns something, you put 'de' in front: '¿De quién es este libro?' (Whose is this book?).
Without an accent, 'quien' acts like a bridge. It connects extra details back to the person you're talking about, like "the author *who* wrote the book."
quién (Pronoun)
📝 In Action
Mi tía, quien es doctora, vive en Madrid.
B1My aunt, who is a doctor, lives in Madrid.
Es la persona a quien debes agradecer.
B2She is the person whom you should thank.
Los estudiantes con quienes trabajé eran muy inteligentes.
B2The students with whom I worked were very smart.
Quien ríe último, ríe mejor.
C1He who laughs last, laughs best.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'No Accent' Connector
When 'quien' doesn't have an accent mark, it's not asking a question. Instead, it's connecting a piece of information to a person you've already mentioned.
Best Friends with 'a, con, de, para'
You'll most often see 'quien' used right after small connecting words like 'a', 'con', 'de', or 'para'. For example: 'la chica con quien hablé' (the girl with whom I spoke).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'quien' instead of 'que'
Mistake: "El hombre quien vive al lado es mi amigo."
Correction: El hombre que vive al lado es mi amigo. (In general, if you're just adding a simple description and not using a word like 'con' or 'de' before it, 'que' is the safer and more common choice.)
Missing the Accent in a Question
Mistake: "Dime quien vino a la fiesta."
Correction: Dime quién vino a la fiesta. (Even if there are no question marks, if you're asking 'who' indirectly, you must use the accent on 'quién'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Sounding More Polished
Using 'quien' (especially after words like 'con' or 'para') can make your Spanish sound more formal and sophisticated, particularly in writing.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quién
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is correct for asking about the owners of the dogs?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the absolute simplest rule for the accent on 'quién'?
If it means 'who?' as part of a question (even an indirect one like 'I wonder who...'), it has an accent. If it means 'who' as a connector (like 'the man who...'), it does not have an accent.
Can I just always use 'que' instead of 'quien' (without an accent)?
In casual conversation, you often can, and you'll be understood. For example, 'la chica con que hablé'. However, it sounds much more natural and correct in Spanish to use 'quien' after words like 'a, con, de, para' when talking about people. So, 'la chica con quien hablé' is the better choice.
Why does Spanish have 'quién' and 'quiénes'? English just has 'who'.
Spanish likes for its words to agree in number. Just like you say 'el chico' (one boy) but 'los chicos' (many boys), Spanish does the same with this question word. If you're asking about multiple people, the question word itself becomes plural. It's an extra detail that makes the language very precise.