Spanish Conversation · Level 8
90 words
Spanish word
cual
Pronunciation
IPA/kwal/
Meaning
- pronounwhich
Example
Este es el color del cual te hablé.
This is the color which I told you about.
More examples
Ese es el motivo por el cual llegué tarde.
That is the reason why I arrived late.
Core concept
A thing already mentioned, referred back to in the clause that follows.
Common phrases
el cual
which
razón por la cual
the reason why
Similar words
qué: Seeks what something is or what kind it is, especially before a noun to ask for a type.
quién: Seeks the identity of a person, asking who someone is or which individual is meant.
cuánto: Seeks quantity or magnitude, asking how much or how many.
Definition in Spanish
Retoma un elemento ya mencionado y suele ir precedido de artículo, como en el cual; la forma con tilde, cuál, introduce preguntas.
Word origin
From Latin qualis 'of what kind' via medieval qual, Spanish uses cual as the relative form and marks the interrogative form with an acute accent as cuál.
Usage tips
- Unaccented cual is the relative pronoun and follows an article, as in el cual; accented cuál opens a question.
Related words
- cualquieraanyonepronoun
- cualidadqualitynoun