Relative pronouns are among the most useful grammatical tools in Italian. They allow you to connect clauses, avoid repetition and build richer, more natural sentences. Getting them right is a significant step forward — the one that separates functional Italian from Italian that truly flows.

In this article, you’ll find a clear, step-by-step explanation of the main Italian relative pronouns — che, cui, chi and the compound forms with il quale — with concrete examples and exercises to help you use them with confidence.

1. What are relative pronouns for?

Relative pronouns connect two clauses that share a common element — a person, a thing or a place. Instead of repeating the same word twice, you use a relative pronoun to combine the two sentences into one smoother whole.

Here’s an example:

La sorella di Carla è arrivata proprio ieri. + La sorella di Carla ha deciso di non ripartire più.

→ La sorella di Carla, che è arrivata proprio ieri, ha deciso di non ripartire più.

Simple enough in principle — but how do you know which pronoun to use? It all comes down to the grammatical function the pronoun plays in the relative clause.

2. The pronoun che: subject or object

2.1 When che is the subject

When the relative pronoun stands in for the subject of the clause, Italian uses che. In this case, it can be replaced by il quale / la quale / i quali / le quali, which agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to.

– La persona che / la quale parla con Serena è il professore di Storia dell’arte.

And in the plural:

– I turisti che / i quali preferiscono visitare le città d’arte sono la maggior parte.

The form il quale / la quale is more formal and more precise. It’s especially useful when there’s ambiguity about which noun the pronoun refers to — the gender and number agreement helps clarify things.

2.2 When che is the object

When the relative pronoun stands in for the object of the clause, Italian again uses che — and in this case, it cannot be replaced by any other form.

– Chiara ha ordinato dei libri che deve studiare per l’esame.
– Paola ha comprato la camicia che aveva visto ieri.

In short: che covers both the subject and the object, and it never changes form. It’s the simplest and most frequently used relative pronoun in Italian.

3. The pronoun cui: for objects of a preposition

This is where many learners get stuck — and yet the logic is straightforward.

When the relative pronoun refers to the object of a preposition (introduced by di, a, da, in, con, su, per, tra…), Italian uses cui, preceded by the relevant preposition. This corresponds to English structures like “about which”, “with whom”, “in which”, and so on.

– Questi sono i documenti di cui ti ho parlato tempo fa.
– La signora con cui è venuto il Presidente è sua moglie.
– Questo è il sito in cui si possono trovare le informazioni necessarie.

When cui is preceded by a preposition, it can be replaced by il quale / la quale / i quali / le quali, merging the preposition with the article. Here are the same examples in this form:

– Questi sono i documenti dei quali vi ho parlato tempo fa.
– La signora con la quale è venuto il Presidente è sua moglie.
– Questo è il sito nel quale si possono trovare le informazioni necessarie.

Important exception: The preposition a before cui can be omitted.

– Rosanna è la persona (a) cui pensavo di scrivere.

Both forms are correct: with or without a.

4. The pronoun chi: a special case

There is a fourth relative pronoun, less common but very useful: chi.

Chi always refers to people and works as a double-function pronoun: it is equivalent to quelli che, la persona / le persone che, la gente che. It is always singular.

– Chi pratica sport sta meglio anche mentalmente.
– Amo chi ascolta musica classica.

Watch out: Chi is never used for things or animals. For those, use che or cui.

5. How Italian relative pronouns compare to English

If you’re coming from English, there are a few key differences worth keeping in mind.

Italian che covers both who and that/which. In English, you distinguish between who (for people) and that or which (for things). Italian doesn’t make that distinction — che works for people and things alike, whether it’s the subject or the object.

– La ragazza che parla… (the girl who is talking…)
– Il film che guardo… (the film that I’m watching…)

Italian never drops the relative pronoun. In English, you can say “the book I bought” or “the book that I bought” — both are fine. In Italian, leaving out the relative pronoun is not an option. You must always include che, cui or the appropriate form.

✔ Il libro che ho comprato…
❌ Il libro ho comprato…

For objects of a preposition, Italian uses preposition + cui. English handles these with “whose”, “of which”, “with whom” and similar forms. Italian is more systematic: preposition + cui (or preposition + il quale / la quale) covers all of these cases.

– L’amico con cui viaggio… (the friend with whom I’m travelling…)
– I documenti di cui ti ho parlato… (the documents I told you about…)

6. Practise with these sentences

Here are a few sentences to test your knowledge. Choose the correct relative pronoun:

1. La sorella di Carla, ___ è arrivata proprio ieri, ha deciso di non ripartire più.
2. Rosanna è la persona a ___ pensavo di scrivere.
3. Questi sono i documenti ___ ti ho parlato tempo fa.
4. ___ studia con costanza ottiene sempre buoni risultati.
5. Ho trovato il ristorante ___ cercavo da tempo.

(Answers: 1. che / la quale — 2. cui — 3. di cui / dei quali — 4. Chi — 5. che)

7. Want to go deeper?

Relative pronouns are a cornerstone of Italian grammar. Mastering them means being able to build precise, expressive sentences — just like a native speaker. They’re also the key to understanding authentic Italian texts and conversations more easily.

Check out the complete grammar sheet on Pronomi relativi from the Sillabi resources to review the rules, examples and summary tables at a glance. It’s the perfect tool to have on hand whenever you’re studying or doing exercises.

8. Ready to speak more fluent, natural Italian?

Understanding the rules is just the beginning. To use relative pronouns spontaneously — without stopping to think, in speech and in writing — you need guided practice in real context.

The Allegramente course is designed exactly for this: a structured, progressive learning path that helps you turn grammar rules into natural reflexes. With clear explanations, practical exercises, videos and a method that puts grammar in context, you’ll build confidence at your own pace.

And if you’re not sure where to start, take the free online level test: in just a few minutes, you’ll know exactly which point in the course is right for you.