How to Use Que to Connect Ideas in Portuguese
Que often means ‘that’ or ‘who’ when it links a noun to a clause that describes it: o livro que comprei.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Que can connect a person or thing with a clause that tells you more about it. In English, the same link may use ‘that,’ ‘which,’ or ‘who’: a pessoa que me ajudou (the person who helped me), o filme que vimos (the movie that we watched). Que does not change for masculine, feminine, singular, or plural.
Use que to attach information to a noun
A relative clause can make a sentence more specific without starting a new sentence. First name the person or object; then use que to add the relevant detail.
Conheci a professora que escreveu o livro.
I met the teacher who wrote the book.
Este é o restaurante que você recomendou.
This is the restaurant you recommended.
As músicas que eles escolheram são ótimas.
The songs they chose are great.
Keep a required preposition before que
When the verb or phrase in the relative clause needs a preposition, keep it before que: a cidade em que nasci (the city where I was born), o assunto sobre que conversamos is possible but sounds more formal than sobre o qual conversamos in many contexts. Brazilian speakers often choose a natural alternative such as a cidade onde nasci.
For a beginner, start with common structures where que is the direct object and no preposition is needed. As you encounter verbs such as gostar de or precisar de, learn the complete pattern and keep the preposition when the sentence requires it.
A série que comecei é muito boa.
The series I started is very good.
O café de que gosto fica perto do trabalho.
The café I like is near work.
A pessoa com quem falei foi muito gentil.
The person I spoke with was very kind.
Put it into practice
Use que to link a noun with a describing clause. When the clause requires a preposition, preserve it or choose a natural relative phrase such as onde or com quem.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “This is the restaurant you recommended”?
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