Spanish · B2 · Everyday language
Whose connection are we describing? in Spanish
At the B2 level, precision is key. This guide focuses on the relative possessive pronoun 'cuyo' (whose), which allows you to link people or objects through ownership or relationships. Unlike other Spanish pronouns, 'cuyo' is unique because it agrees in gender and number with the noun it precedes (the thing possessed), rather than the person who owns it.
What you'll learn
- Master the use of the relative pronoun 'cuyo' and its variations.
- Correctly match gender and number with the possessed noun.
- Formulate complex sentences that describe specific relationships between people and things.
Spanish phrases for whose connection are we describing?
¿Es esa la niña cuyo hermano enseña ajedrez?
Is that the girl whose brother teaches chess?
'Cuyo' is masculine singular because 'hermano' is masculine singular.
Conozco a un niño cuyos padres trabajan en el museo.
I know a boy whose parents work at the museum.
'Cuyos' agrees with 'padres' (masculine plural).
Ese es el autor cuyas historias discutimos ayer.
That's the author whose stories we discussed yesterday.
'Cuyas' matches 'historias' (feminine plural).
¿Podemos invitar a los vecinos cuya hija tiene mi edad?
Can we invite the neighbours whose daughter is my age?
'Cuya' matches 'hija' (feminine singular).
Elegiría el club cuyas actividades cambian cada semana.
I'd choose the club whose activities change each week.
Even for objects like a club, 'cuyo' is the formal way to denote possession.
¿Dónde está el rompecabezas cuya pieza final faltaba?
Where's the puzzle whose final piece was missing?
Note the agreement with 'pieza'.
Ella es la profesora cuyas sugerencias me ayudaron a concentrarme.
She's the teacher whose suggestions helped me concentrate.
'Cuyas' refers to 'sugerencias'.
Esos son los niños cuyo equipo llegó a la final.
Those are the children whose team reached the final.
'Cuyo' agrees with 'equipo'.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
ajedrez
chess
A common hobby term in Spain and Latin America.
rompecabezas
puzzle
Literally 'break-heads'. It is a compound word that is always masculine.
sugerencias
suggestions
A helpful term for discussing advice or feedback.
Relative Possessive Pronouns (Cuyo)
In Spanish, the word for 'whose' is 'cuyo'. The most important rule to remember is that it functions like an adjective. It must match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun that comes *after* it.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine Singular | cuyo | El niño cuyo perro escapó. |
| Feminine Singular | cuya | La empresa cuya sede está en Madrid. |
| Masculine Plural | cuyos | Los autores cuyos libros leímos. |
| Feminine Plural | cuyas | Las calles cuyas luces no funcionan. |
More examples
La alumna, cuyos padres son médicos, estudia mucho.
The student, whose parents are doctors, studies a lot.
Commas are often used when 'cuyo' provides non-essential information.
Es un problema cuya solución no conocemos.
It is a problem whose solution we do not know.
Uses 'cuya' because 'solución' is feminine singular.