Spanish · B1 · Everyday language
Your Trusted Grownups in Spanish
This guide helps you describe the trusted people in your child's life using Spanish relative pronouns and verbs that require specific prepositions, such as 'confiar en' (to trust in) or 'ayudar a' (to help).
What you'll learn
- Use the relative pronouns 'quien' and 'quienes' with prepositions.
- Correctively use verbs like 'ayudar', 'agradecer', and 'confiar' in context.
- Describe caregivers and medical professionals to a child.
Spanish phrases for your trusted grownups
Ese es el médico en quien confiamos para tus revisiones.
That is the doctor whom we trust with your check-ups.
'En quien' is used because the verb 'confiar' requires the preposition 'en'.
Aquí está la abuela a quien estoy ayudando con tu cochecito.
Here is the grandmother whom I am helping with your pram.
'A quien' refers to one person (singular).
Esas son las enfermeras a quienes agradecemos su tierno cuidado.
Those are the nurses whom we thank for their gentle care.
'A quienes' is plural to match 'las enfermeras'.
El padre a quien estoy ayudando lleva a su bebé dormido.
The father whom I am helping is carrying his sleeping baby.
'Ayudar' takes the preposition 'a' when referring to people.
La matrona en quien confío tiene consejos sobre la alimentación.
The midwife whom I trust has advice about feeding.
Matrona is the specific term for a midwife.
Los padres a quienes estamos ayudando tienen gemelos recién nacidos.
The parents whom we are helping have newborn twins.
'Gemelos' specifically refers to identical twins.
El doctor a quien creo dice que estás creciendo bien.
The doctor whom I believe says that you are growing well.
'Creer' (to believe) uses 'a' when referring to believing a person.
El vecino a quien agradecemos nos trajo la cena después de que nacieras.
The neighbour whom we thank brought us dinner after you were born.
The phrase 'después de que nacieras' uses the imperfect subjunctive.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Médico / Doctor
Doctor
Commonly used interchangeably in Spanish.
Matrona
Midwife
Essential healthcare role for newborn care.
Cochecito
Pram / Stroller
Diminutive of 'coche' (car), common for baby gear.
Gemelos
Twins
Use 'mellizos' if they are non-identical.
Relative Pronouns with Prepositions
In Spanish, when 'whom' follows a verb that takes a preposition (like 'a' or 'en'), we use 'quien' (singular) or 'quienes' (plural) preceded by that preposition.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular (a) | a quien | La abuela a quien ayudo. |
| Plural (a) | a quienes | Los padres a quienes agradecemos. |
| Trust in (en) | en quien | El médico en quien confío. |
More examples
Ella es la niñera en quien todos confiamos.
She is the babysitter in whom we all trust.
Uses 'en quien' for 'confiar'.
Los abuelos a quienes queremos mucho vienen hoy.
The grandparents whom we love a lot are coming today.
Uses 'a quienes' for plural objects of affection.