Spanish · B1 · Everyday language
The one you mean in Spanish
This guide focuses on identifying people and objects by referring to shared memories or experiences. In Spanish, we use relative pronouns to link a noun to a description where that noun is the direct object of the action.
What you'll learn
- Identify specific people using relative clauses
- Describe objects previously mentioned or shared
- Understand the use of 'que' and 'a quien' as relative pronouns
- Correctly place verbs in relative clauses
Spanish phrases for the one you mean
Ese es el vecino a quien conocimos ayer.
That is the neighbour whom we met yesterday.
When referring to a person as an object, 'a quien' is used.
Aquí está la canción que querías escuchar.
Here is the song that you wanted to hear.
'Que' is the most common relative pronoun for objects.
¿Es este el chiste que le contaste a tu profesor?
Is this the joke that you told your teacher?
'Chiste' means a joke/funny story.
La mujer a la que saludaste vive cerca.
The woman whom you greeted lives nearby.
'A la que' is a common alternative to 'a quien'.
Esas son las palabras que no entendí.
Those are the words that I did not understand.
The relative pronoun 'que' does not change for plural objects.
La película que vimos fue bastante divertida.
The film that we watched was quite funny.
'Vimos' is the preterite (past) form of 'ver' (to watch/see).
¿Dónde está el billete que te di?
Where is the ticket that I gave you?
'Billete' can mean a travel ticket or a banknote.
El nombre que sugeriste es encantador.
The name that you suggested is lovely.
'Sugeriste' is the informal 'you' past tense of 'sugerir'.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Conocer
To meet / To know
In the preterite tense, it often means 'to meet for the first time'.
Chiste
Joke
Specifically a funny story told to make people laugh.
Cerca
Nearby / Close
Used for physical proximity.
Encantador
Lovely / Charming
A common way to describe something very pleasant.
Relative Pronouns as Direct Objects
In Spanish, 'que' is the universal relative pronoun for 'that', 'which', or 'whom'. When the pronoun refers to a person acting as the direct object, we typically add the preposition 'a'.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| For Objects | que | El libro que leíste (The book that you read). |
| For People | a quien / a la que | La niña a la que viste (The girl whom you saw). |
| Word Order | Pronoun + Verb | La ropa que compré (The clothes that I bought). |
More examples
La foto que me enviaste es muy bonita.
The photo that you sent me is very pretty.
Identifying a specific object via a past action.
El hombre al que llamamos no respondió.
The man whom we called did not answer.
Using 'al que' (a + el que) for a male person as an object.
¿Te gusta el regalo que te trajo abuela?
Do you like the gift that grandma brought you?
Common household context for relative clauses.