The pronouns lequel, laquelle, lesquels, and lesquelles are compound relative pronouns. They replace a person or thing introduced by a preposition (other than de) in a relative clause. They also serve as interrogative pronouns meaning “which one” or “which ones.”

Their main function is to avoid ambiguity when qui or que would be unclear. They agree in gender and number with their antecedent.

Forms:

• Masculine singular: lequel
• Feminine singular: laquelle
• Masculine plural: lesquels
• Feminine plural: lesquelles

When the preposition is à or de, contractions are mandatory:

• à + lequel = auquel
• à + laquelle = à laquelle
• à + lesquels = auxquels
• à + lesquelles = auxquelles
• de + lequel = duquel
• de + laquelle = de laquelle
• de + lesquels = desquels
• de + lesquelles = desquelles

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Use after prepositions

Use lequel and its forms after most prepositions: pour, sans, avec, sur, contre, parmi, entre, etc.

• Voici la table sur laquelle j’ai posé mes clés. – “Here is the table on which I put my keys.”
• J’ai rencontré deux collègues avec lesquels je travaille. – “I met two colleagues with whom I work.”
• Elle a acheté un sac sans lequel elle ne peut pas sortir. – “She bought a bag without which she cannot go out.”
• Le problème contre lequel nous luttons est grave. – “The problem against which we are fighting is serious.”
• Parmi lesquelles se trouve la bonne ? – “Among which ones is the right one?”

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Use with à and de (contracted forms)

Auquel and duquel replace the more common à qui and dont when the antecedent is a thing or an abstract idea, or when the antecedent is a person but clarity requires it.

• C’est le sujet auquel je pense. – “That is the subject I am thinking about.”

La raison pour laquelle is a fixed expression. Note that pour + laquelle does not contract.

• Voici la raison pour laquelle je suis venu. – “Here is the reason for which I came.”
• Le projet duquel nous avons parlé est terminé. – “The project about which we spoke is finished.”
• Les documents auxquels il fait référence sont classés. – “The documents to which he refers are classified.”
• La ville de laquelle elle vient est petite. – “The town from which she comes is small.” (Alternative: d’où elle vient is more common for places.)

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Use for clarity with people

With people, qui (subject) and que (object) are normally used. But when a preposition is involved, lequel avoids confusion between multiple possible antecedents.

• J’ai vu le frère de Marie, lequel m’a salué. – “I saw Marie’s brother, who greeted me.” (Clear that the brother greeted me, not Marie.)
• Compare with J’ai vu le frère de Marie qui m’a salué. – This could mean the brother or Marie greeted me. Lequel removes the doubt.
• Elle a parlé à la mère de Pierre, à laquelle elle a offert des fleurs. – “She spoke to Pierre’s mother, to whom she offered flowers.”

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Interrogative use

In questions, lequel means “which one” (or “which ones”).

• Lequel préfères-tu ? – “Which one do you prefer?”
• Laquelle de ces robes est la tienne ? – “Which one of these dresses is yours?”
• Lesquels ont déjà mangé ? – “Which ones have already eaten?”
• Auxquels de vos amis avez-vous écrit ? – “To which ones of your friends did you write?”
• Duquel de ces livres parles-tu ? – “About which one of these books are you speaking?” (Literally “Of which one”)

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Alternatives and synonyms

For people after a preposition, qui is often more natural:

• La personne avec qui je travaille. – “The person with whom I work.” (More common than avec laquelle)

For things after de, dont is usually simpler:

• Le sujet dont je parle. – “The subject about which I am speaking.” (Instead of duquel)

For places after de, d’où is preferred:

• La ville d’où elle vient. – “The town from which she comes.” (Instead of de laquelle)

For reasons with pour, pourquoi can replace pour lequel in some contexts, but pour lequel is more precise when referring to a specific antecedent:

• La raison pour laquelle – fixed and very common. No simple synonym.

With sur, où can sometimes replace sur lequel when referring to a place:

• La table où j’ai posé mes clés. – “The table on which I put my keys.” (Less formal, acceptable for physical surfaces.)

With à + a thing, où is also a common alternative for time or place:

• Le jour auquel / le jour où – “The day on which” / “The day when” – both used, où is more frequent.

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Summary

• Lequel agrees in gender and number with its antecedent.
• Use it after prepositions (except de and à without contraction).
• Auquel and duquel are contracted forms for à and de.
• Use lequel for clarity when qui or que would be ambiguous.
• For people, qui after a preposition is often simpler.
• For places, où and d’où often replace lequel forms.
• For things with de, dont is usually preferred over duquel.
• In questions, lequel means “which one.”