The Relative Pronouns "O qual" and "A qual"
In Portuguese, the most common relative pronoun for "that" or "which" is que. However, when "which" comes after a multi-syllable preposition or a prepositional phrase (like "inside of", "behind", or "next to"), you use o qual (masculine singular) or a qual (feminine singular).
| which / who (m.sg) | o qual |
| which / who (f.sg) | a qual |
These pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they refer back to. Because many directional prepositions end with de (e.g., dentro de, atrás de), the de contracts with the o or a in the pronoun, forming do qual and da qual.
| The property, inside of which we are, is very spacious. | A propriedade, dentro da qual estamos, é muito espaçosa. |
| The bedroom has a bright terrace, behind which is the garden. | O quarto tem um terraço luminoso, atrás do qual está o jardim. |
| We see the renovated patio, next to which is the pool. | Vemos o pátio renovado, ao lado do qual fica a piscina. |
The Plural Forms: "Os quais" and "As quais"
If the noun you are referring back to is plural, you must use os quais (masculine plural) or as quais (feminine plural).
| which / who (m.pl) | os quais |
| which / who (f.pl) | as quais |
Just like the singular forms, these will contract with de to become dos quais and das quais.
| Those are the doors, through which we went to the hall. | Aquelas são as portas, através das quais fomos para o salão. |
| The renovated walls, in front of which the car stopped, are tall. | Os muros renovados, em frente dos quais o carro parou, são altos. |
Prepositions Without "De"
When you use a preposition that does not end in de—such as sobre (about/over)—it simply sits in front of the pronoun without contracting.
| This is the bright property, about which we spoke yesterday. | Esta é a propriedade luminosa, sobre a qual nós falámos ontem. |
Using these relative pronouns elevates your Portuguese, making it precise and formal. This is especially useful when describing spatial details, such as during a property tour.
| The patios, in the middle of which there are trees, are peaceful. | Os pátios, no meio dos quais há árvores, são tranquilos. |