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How to Say "which" in Spanish

English → Spanish

que

/keh//ke/

ConnectorA1General
Use 'que' when 'which' acts as a relative pronoun introducing a clause that describes or identifies a noun, similar to 'that' or 'who' in English.
A bridge connecting two pieces of land, symbolizing how 'que' connects two parts of a sentence.

Examples

El libro que leo es interesante.

The book that I'm reading is interesting.

La casa que tiene el techo rojo es mía.

The house that has the red roof is mine.

Espero que vengas a la fiesta.

I hope that you come to the party.

The Ultimate Connector

Use 'que' to add extra information about a person or thing you just mentioned. It's like 'that', 'which', or 'who' in English all rolled into one.

Don't Forget 'Que'

Mistake: “English often drops 'that' (e.g., 'I think he is nice').”

Correction: In Spanish, you almost always need to keep the 'que': 'Creo que es simpático.'

cual

/kwal//kwal/

PronounB1Formal/Literary
Use 'cual' (often preceded by a preposition like 'el/la cual', 'los/las cuales', 'al cual', etc.) when 'which' refers back to a specific noun and functions more formally, especially after a preposition.
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'.

Examples

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.

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.

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.

Que vs. Cual After Prepositions

The most common mistake is using 'que' where 'cual' is more appropriate, especially after prepositions. While 'que' is versatile, 'cual' is often preferred in more formal contexts or when 'which' clearly refers back to a specific noun and needs more distinction.

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