Showing results for cual
See entry for:
- cuál
cual
which
A formal word that points back explicitly to something mentioned earlier
Encoding Strategies:
repetition
Cual means which and is a formal word that points back explicitly to something mentioned earlier. It almost always appears with a definite article.
el cual / la cual
the one which, the one who
Adding a definite article before 'cual' turns it into a noun. "Which" becomes "the one which," which is something you can point at. It's more formal than "el que," explicitly pointing back to something mentioned earlier.
La razón por la cual vine es complicadaThe reason for which I came is complicated
Tuvo tres hijos, los cuales viven en el extranjeroHe had three children, who all live abroad
lo cual
which
Where "el cual" points at a specific person or thing, "lo cual" refers to something abstract — an entire idea or situation. It's more formal than "lo que," explicitly pointing back to something mentioned earlier.
Llegó tarde, lo cual nos sorprendió a todosHe arrived late, which surprised us all
No estudió nada, lo cual explica su notaShe didn't study at all, which explains her grade