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B2 noun 11 Min. Lesezeit

desquelles

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Erklärung desquelles in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use 'desquelles' yourself. It is a very advanced word. However, you might see it in books. Just remember that it means 'of which' or 'from which'. It is used when we talk about more than one thing, and those things are 'feminine' in French (like 'les voitures' or 'les fleurs'). It's like a bridge that connects two parts of a sentence. If you see it, look at the word before it to see what it is talking about. For example, if you see 'les maisons... desquelles', it's talking about the houses. Don't worry about the grammar yet; just recognize that it's a way to describe things in more detail. At this stage, focus on simpler words like 'qui' and 'que'. 'Desquelles' is like a fancy decoration on a building—you can admire it without knowing exactly how to build it yet. Think of it as a combination of 'of' and 'which'. If you see a long word starting with 'des-' and ending in '-quelles', it's almost always referring back to a group of feminine items. It's a sign that the sentence is becoming more complex and descriptive. Just keep reading and you will start to see the pattern of how it connects ideas together.

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At the A2 level, you are starting to learn about feminine and masculine words. 'Desquelles' is the feminine plural form of a special group of pronouns. You use it when you have a preposition like 'à côté de' (next to) or 'près de' (near) and you want to say 'the ones near which'. For example, if you are talking about 'les chaises' (the chairs), you would use 'desquelles'. It's a bit like saying 'of them' in a relative clause. While you might not use it in your own speaking yet, you should be able to recognize it in a text. It always refers to a feminine plural noun. If you see 'les clés' (the keys), and then 'desquelles', you know the sentence is giving more info about the keys. A good way to remember it is to break it down: 'de' + 'lesquelles'. Since 'de' + 'les' always becomes 'des' in French, 'de' + 'lesquelles' becomes 'desquelles'. It's all about making the sentence flow better. You might start to see this in short stories or news articles. It's a step up from 'qui' or 'que' because it handles specific prepositions. If a sentence uses 'près de', 'loin de', or 'à côté de', you can't just use 'que'. You need this special form to make the grammar work correctly.

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At the B1 level, you should begin to understand the mechanics of 'desquelles'. This word is used after complex prepositions—those made of several words ending in 'de'. Common examples include 'à cause de' (because of), 'en face de' (opposite), and 'au milieu de' (in the middle of). When the noun you are describing is feminine plural, like 'les idées' or 'les rues', you must use 'desquelles'. You are moving beyond simple sentences and starting to create more complex descriptions. For example: 'Les rues au bout desquelles se trouve la mer' (The streets at the end of which the sea is located). Note how 'desquelles' links 'les rues' to the rest of the sentence. You should also start to distinguish it from 'dont'. Use 'dont' for simple verbs like 'parler de', but use 'desquelles' when you have a physical or complex preposition. It’s a mark of progress in your French to use this word correctly in your writing. It shows you understand gender agreement and the rules of contraction. Even if you don't use it in every conversation, knowing when it's required will make your formal emails and essays much more professional. Practice by looking for feminine plural nouns and trying to add a description using 'à côté de' or 'près de'.

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At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'desquelles' accurately in both writing and formal speaking. This is the level where the distinction between 'dont' and 'desquelles' becomes critical. You must use 'desquelles' whenever the relative pronoun is governed by a prepositional phrase ending in 'de' (e.g., 'à l'insu de', 'au cours de', 'à la suite de'). For instance: 'Les circonstances à la suite desquelles l'accord a été signé...' (The circumstances following which the agreement was signed). At this level, you should also be aware of the stylistic choice between 'desquelles' and 'de qui' when referring to people. While 'de qui' is common, 'desquelles' is perfectly correct and adds a formal, literary tone. You should be comfortable identifying the antecedent quickly and ensuring the pronoun matches in gender and number. If the antecedent is 'les propositions' (feminine plural), only 'desquelles' will do. Errors at this stage, such as using 'desquels' for a feminine noun, are seen as significant grammatical mistakes. You should also be able to handle 'desquelles' in inverted sentences, which are common in formal French. Mastery of this word demonstrates that you have moved into the upper-intermediate range of French proficiency, where you can handle complex syntax with ease.

At the C1 level, 'desquelles' should be a natural part of your formal repertoire. You use it to achieve precision and stylistic elegance. At this advanced stage, you use 'desquelles' to avoid ambiguity in sentences with multiple potential antecedents. Because 'desquelles' is specifically feminine plural, it clearly points back to a feminine plural noun, even if there are masculine nouns nearby. This clarity is essential in academic writing and legal discourse. You are also expected to use it with more obscure prepositional locutions, such as 'en vertu de' (by virtue of), 'au mépris de' (in defiance of), or 'à l'encontre de' (contrary to). For example: 'Les valeurs au mépris desquelles il a agi...' (The values in defiance of which he acted). Your use of 'desquelles' should feel effortless, contributing to the flow of long, complex sentences without causing you to lose the grammatical thread. You should also recognize its use in classical literature, where it often appears in highly structured prose. At C1, you don't just know the rule; you understand the 'weight' the word carries—it signals a high level of education and a commitment to the nuances of the French language. You might also use it in rhetorical situations to create a specific rhythm in your speech or writing.

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At the C2 level, you have complete mastery over 'desquelles' and use it with the same nuance as a highly educated native speaker. You understand its role not just in grammar, but in the architecture of the French language. You can use it in the most complex syntactic environments, including nested relative clauses and formal inversions. You might use it to create specific stylistic effects, such as 'chiasmus' or 'parallelism', in your oratorical or literary work. At this level, you also know when *not* to use it to avoid sounding overly pedantic or archaic in a modern context. You can seamlessly switch between 'dont', 'de qui', and 'desquelles' depending on the desired register and the specific rhythmic needs of the sentence. You are also aware of the historical evolution of the word and how its usage has shifted in contemporary French. For a C2 speaker, 'desquelles' is a tool for absolute precision; it allows you to construct legal, philosophical, or technical arguments where every relationship between nouns and clauses is perfectly defined. You can read a 17th-century text by Racine or a modern legal brief and immediately grasp the logical connections signaled by this pronoun. It is, for you, an essential component of the 'grand style' of the French language.

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desquelles in 30 Sekunden

A formal relative pronoun meaning 'of which' for feminine plural nouns.
A contraction of 'de' + 'lesquelles' used after complex prepositions.
Essential for B2+ level French to show precision in gender and number agreement.
Commonly found in literature, legal texts, and formal academic writing.

The French relative pronoun desquelles is a sophisticated grammatical tool used to link a subordinate clause to a feminine plural antecedent. Morphologically, it is a contraction of the preposition de and the relative pronoun lesquelles. In English, it is most often translated as 'of which', 'from which', or 'about which', specifically when referring to a group of feminine nouns. While it may seem daunting to English speakers who are used to the versatility of 'which' or 'that', desquelles provides a level of precision regarding gender and number that is characteristic of formal French. It is primarily used in written French, such as in literature, legal documents, and academic essays, or in very formal spoken contexts like a political speech or a high-level lecture.

Grammatical Category: Relative Pronoun (Contraction of 'de' + 'lesquelles').
Gender and Number: Feminine Plural only.

Understanding desquelles requires a solid grasp of the antecedent—the noun that comes before it. If you are talking about les fleurs (the flowers) or les décisions (the decisions), and you need to use a prepositional phrase ending in de, desquelles is your required pronoun.

Ce sont les raisons à cause desquelles elle a démissionné.

In this example, 'raisons' is feminine plural, and 'à cause de' triggers the use of the contracted pronoun. Without this contraction, the sentence would be grammatically incorrect in French. Beyond simple location, it is used for abstract concepts. If you are discussing 'les circonstances' (the circumstances) or 'les conséquences' (the consequences), you will find desquelles appearing in complex logical structures. It serves as a bridge, ensuring that the listener or reader knows exactly which feminine plural entities are being discussed.

Les entreprises au sujet desquelles nous avons enquêté sont basées à Lyon.

The use of desquelles avoids the ambiguity that sometimes plagues English when 'which' could refer to multiple preceding nouns. By being gender-specific, French creates a clear, unbreakable link to the specific feminine plural noun. This linguistic precision is why the word is so favored in legal drafting, where ambiguity can lead to significant problems. In everyday conversation, however, a French speaker might simplify the sentence or use 'dont', though 'dont' cannot always replace desquelles, particularly after complex prepositions.

Register: Formal and Literary. Rarely used in casual texting or slang.

To master this word, one must view it not as a single word, but as a puzzle piece that fits only when the preceding noun is 'feminine' and 'plural' and the following thought is introduced by 'de'. It is the hallmark of a B2/C1 level speaker to use this correctly without hesitation.

Voici les clés à côté desquelles j'avais posé mon sac.

Finally, remember that desquelles is part of a family. Its siblings include duquel (masculine singular), de laquelle (feminine singular), and desquels (masculine plural). Together, they allow a French speaker to navigate complex descriptions with surgical accuracy.

Using desquelles correctly involves a two-step verification process: identifying the gender/number of the noun and identifying the preposition. In French, relative pronouns must agree with the noun they replace. Since desquelles is feminine plural, the noun it refers back to must be feminine and plural. For example, les montagnes (the mountains) or les idées (the ideas). The second step is the preposition. Many French prepositions are 'locutions prépositives'—multi-word phrases that end in de. These include à côté de (next to), en face de (opposite), le long de (along), and à propos de (about).

Structure: [Feminine Plural Noun] + [Prepositional Phrase ending in 'de'] + [desquelles] + [Clause].

Let's look at a concrete example involving physical location. Imagine you are describing a series of houses.

Les maisons en face desquelles nous habitons sont très anciennes.

Here, 'maisons' is the antecedent (feminine plural). The preposition is 'en face de'. Because we cannot say 'en face de lesquelles', we contract it to desquelles. This is a non-negotiable rule of French grammar. Another common usage is with abstract nouns in professional settings.

Les réformes au sujet desquelles nous débattons sont essentielles.

In this sentence, 'réformes' is feminine plural. The phrase 'au sujet de' (concerning/about) requires the contraction. If you used 'desquels', you would be making a gender error; if you used 'dont', the sentence would feel slightly incomplete or less precise in this specific construction.

Common Prepositions: loin de, près de, à la fin de, au milieu de, à cause de, suite à.

It is also important to note that desquelles can be used to indicate possession or origin when the relationship is complex.

Les branches au bout desquelles poussent les fleurs sont fragiles.

Here, 'branches' (feminine plural) is the antecedent. 'Au bout de' (at the end of) is the prepositional phrase. The flowers grow at the end of the branches. This level of syntactic complexity is what elevates French writing. Finally, remember that desquelles can never refer to people if you want to sound very natural; for people, 'de qui' is often preferred, though desquelles is grammatically acceptable and common in very formal texts. For example, 'Les femmes à cause desquelles...' is perfectly fine, but 'Les femmes de qui...' is also heard. However, for objects and abstract concepts, desquelles is the standard choice.

You are unlikely to hear desquelles at a casual café or during a football match. It is a 'high-register' word. Its most natural habitat is within the pages of a classic novel, a legal contract, or a formal news broadcast. When a journalist on France 2 discusses 'les conditions dans le cadre desquelles les négociations ont eu lieu' (the conditions within the framework of which the negotiations took place), they are using the word to maintain a professional and precise tone. In legal contexts, desquelles is indispensable. Contracts often refer to 'les clauses en vertu desquelles...' (the clauses by virtue of which...). Here, the word ensures there is no doubt that 'clauses' (feminine plural) is the referent.

Media Usage: Documentaries, news reports, and historical podcasts.
Literature: 19th and 20th-century novels (Proust, Flaubert) often use these complex relatives to build long, flowing sentences.

You will also hear it in academic settings. A professor of philosophy or history might use it to link complex ideas.

Les théories à la base desquelles se trouve cette réflexion sont anciennes.

In this academic context, the word signifies that the speaker is educated and is paying attention to the nuances of the French language. In modern pop culture, it's rare, but it appears in formal interviews with artists or intellectuals. If a singer is discussing 'les influences à partir desquelles j'ai créé cet album', they are choosing a refined way to express their creative process.

Les archives à partir desquelles le film a été réalisé sont inédites.

For a learner, hearing desquelles is a signal: 'Pay attention, this is a complex thought.' It helps you track the subject across a long sentence. If you hear the 'elle' sound at the end of the word, your brain should immediately look back for a feminine plural noun. This auditory cue is vital for comprehension in fast-paced formal speech.

Public Speaking: Used in eulogies, wedding speeches (formal), and inaugurations.

In summary, desquelles is a word of the elite, the academic, and the writer. It represents the structural beauty of the French language, where even the smallest contraction carries significant grammatical information. While you might not use it to order a croissant, you will certainly need it to understand a French editorial or a legal notice.

The most frequent error with desquelles is gender and number disagreement. English speakers often default to a single form for 'which', but in French, you must match the antecedent. Using 'desquels' (masculine) when referring to 'les voitures' (feminine) is a common slip-up.

Mistake 1: Using 'desquelles' for masculine nouns. Correct: Les dossiers (m) -> desquels. Incorrect: Les dossiers -> desquelles.

Another major pitfall is confusing desquelles with 'dont'. While both can mean 'of which', they are not always interchangeable. 'Dont' is used for simple verbs followed by 'de' (e.g., parler de, avoir besoin de). Desquelles is required when there is a complex prepositional phrase (e.g., à cause de, en face de).

Incorrect: Les amies dont je suis assis à côté.
Correct: Les amies à côté desquelles je suis assis.

A third mistake is forgetting the contraction. Some learners try to say 'de lesquelles'. This is a phonetic 'forbidden zone' in French. Just as 'de le' becomes 'du', 'de lesquelles' MUST become desquelles.

Mistake 2: Failing to contract. 'Les fleurs de lesquelles...' is incorrect and sounds very jarring to a native ear.

Learners also struggle with the placement of the pronoun. In English, we can say 'The reasons which she left because of', but in French, the prepositional phrase MUST stay together: 'Les raisons à cause desquelles elle est partie'. You cannot move 'à cause' to the end of the clause.

Correct: Les tables sur lesquelles...
Correct: Les tables près desquelles...

Lastly, be careful with 'desquels' vs 'desquelles' in pronunciation. The 'elle' sound is distinct. If you mispronounce it, you might confuse your listener about the gender of the object you are describing. Practice the 'quelles' ending—it should rhyme with the English word 'shell'.

To fully master desquelles, you must understand its relationship with other relative pronouns. The most common alternative is dont. While dont is very versatile, it is generally used for simple 'de' verbs.

dont: Used for 'parler de', 'avoir envie de', 'être fier de'. It is more common in speech than desquelles.
desquels: The masculine plural equivalent. Used for 'les livres', 'les films', etc.

Another alternative, specifically when referring to people, is de qui. While desquelles can refer to people, de qui is often preferred in semi-formal speech because it is shorter and specifically designates humans.

Les femmes à côté desquelles je travaille. (Formal)
Les femmes de qui je parle. (Neutral/Formal)

There is also the option of using lesquelles with a different preposition. If the preposition doesn't end in 'de', you don't use the 'des-' form. For example, 'sur lesquelles' (on which) or 'pour lesquelles' (for which). This highlights that desquelles is specifically a 'de' contraction.

duquel / de laquelle: Singular versions. Use these if you are only talking about one feminine or masculine noun.

In very informal speech, French speakers often avoid these complex relatives entirely by breaking the sentence into two. Instead of saying 'The reasons because of which I left', they might say 'I left for several reasons. Among them...' (Je suis parti pour plusieurs raisons. Parmi elles...). This is a useful strategy for learners who are not yet comfortable with the 'lequel' family.

Formal: Les villes près desquelles nous sommes passés.
Informal: On est passés près de ces villes.

Understanding these alternatives helps you choose the right 'flavor' of French for your situation. Use desquelles when you want to be precise, elegant, and grammatically impeccable in your writing.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The 'lequel' family of pronouns is one of the few places in French where the article remains attached to the pronoun, creating these long, complex-looking words.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /de.kɛl/

US /de.kɛl/

The stress is even, with a slight emphasis on the final syllable 'quelles'.

Reimt sich auf

poubelles nouvelles belles chandelles elles aisselles dentelles échelles

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 's' at the end of 'desquelles'. It is silent.
Pronouncing the 's' in 'des'. It is silent.
Confusing the pronunciation with 'desquels' (masculine), which ends in a more closed 'el' sound, though they sound very similar in many dialects.
Making the 'qu' sound like 'kw' as in 'quick'. In French, 'qu' is just a 'k' sound.
Over-stressing the 'des' part.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 4/5

Easy to recognize if you know 'lesquelles', but requires tracking the antecedent.

Schreiben 8/5

Difficult because you must remember the contraction and the gender/number agreement.

Sprechen 9/5

Very hard to use spontaneously; most learners prefer 'dont' or rephrasing.

Hören 5/5

The 'elle' sound is a clear giveaway for feminine plural, but it can be fast.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

qui que dont lequel lesquelles

Als Nächstes lernen

auxquelles desquels dont vs duquel lequel with prepositions

Fortgeschritten

quiconque quoi que lequel as a subject

Wichtige Grammatik

Contraction with 'de'

de + lesquelles = desquelles

Agreement with Antecedent

Les fleurs (f.pl) -> desquelles

Use after complex prepositions

près de, loin de, à cause de

Dont vs Desquelles

Use 'dont' for simple 'de' verbs; 'desquelles' for prepositional phrases.

Relative Pronoun Placement

The preposition must stay before the pronoun.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Les fleurs près desquelles je joue sont belles.

The flowers near which I play are beautiful.

Fleurs is feminine plural, so we use desquelles.

Les tables à côté desquelles tu es.

The tables next to which you are.

Tables is feminine plural.

Les voitures en face desquelles nous sommes.

The cars in front of which we are.

Voitures is feminine plural.

Les chaises sur le côté desquelles il y a un sac.

The chairs on the side of which there is a bag.

Chaises is feminine plural.

Les maisons loin desquelles il habite.

The houses far from which he lives.

Maisons is feminine plural.

Les fenêtres près desquelles elle attend.

The windows near which she waits.

Fenêtres is feminine plural.

Les boîtes à l'intérieur desquelles il y a des jouets.

The boxes inside which there are toys.

Boîtes is feminine plural.

Les filles à côté desquelles je suis assis.

The girls next to whom I am sitting.

Filles is feminine plural.

Les montagnes au pied desquelles nous campons.

The mountains at the foot of which we are camping.

Montagnes is feminine plural; 'au pied de' is the preposition.

Les lampes à côté desquelles je lis.

The lamps next to which I read.

Lampes is feminine plural.

Les photos au sujet desquelles nous parlons.

The photos about which we are talking.

Photos is feminine plural; 'au sujet de' means 'about'.

Les clés près desquelles tu as posé ton téléphone.

The keys near which you put your phone.

Clés is feminine plural.

Les écoles en face desquelles se trouve le parc.

The schools opposite which the park is located.

Écoles is feminine plural.

Les tasses au bord desquelles il y a du sucre.

The cups on the rim of which there is sugar.

Tasses is feminine plural.

Les valises à côté desquelles il attend le train.

The suitcases next to which he waits for the train.

Valises is feminine plural.

Les amies à cause desquelles je suis venu.

The friends because of whom I came.

Amies is feminine plural; 'à cause de' means 'because of'.

Les raisons à cause desquelles elle est partie sont tristes.

The reasons because of which she left are sad.

Raisons is feminine plural.

Les entreprises au sein desquelles il a travaillé.

The companies within which he worked.

Entreprises is feminine plural; 'au sein de' is formal for 'within'.

Les questions à propos desquelles nous débattons.

The questions about which we are debating.

Questions is feminine plural.

Les plages le long desquelles nous nous sommes promenés.

The beaches along which we walked.

Plages is feminine plural; 'le long de' means 'along'.

Les erreurs à la suite desquelles il a été renvoyé.

The errors following which he was fired.

Erreurs is feminine plural.

Les villes au milieu desquelles coule une rivière.

The cities in the middle of which a river flows.

Villes is feminine plural.

Les idées à partir desquelles il a écrit son livre.

The ideas from which he wrote his book.

Idées is feminine plural.

Les vitrines devant desquelles les gens s'arrêtent.

The shop windows in front of which people stop.

Vitrines is feminine plural.

Les conditions dans le cadre desquelles le contrat a été signé.

The conditions within the framework of which the contract was signed.

Conditions is feminine plural; 'dans le cadre de' is a standard formal phrase.

Les réformes au sujet desquelles le ministre s'est exprimé.

The reforms about which the minister spoke.

Réformes is feminine plural.

Les circonstances à la faveur desquelles il a réussi.

The circumstances thanks to which he succeeded.

Circonstances is feminine plural; 'à la faveur de' means 'thanks to' or 'by means of'.

Les théories à l'appui desquelles il présente ces preuves.

The theories in support of which he presents this evidence.

Théories is feminine plural; 'à l'appui de' means 'in support of'.

Les conclusions à l'issue desquelles nous sommes parvenus.

The conclusions at the end of which we arrived.

Conclusions is feminine plural; 'à l'issue de' means 'at the end of'.

Les traditions au nom desquelles ils se battent.

The traditions in the name of which they are fighting.

Traditions is feminine plural.

Les mesures à l'encontre desquelles il a protesté.

The measures against which he protested.

Mesures is feminine plural; 'à l'encontre de' means 'against'.

Les archives à la lumière desquelles nous avons révisé l'histoire.

The archives in light of which we revised history.

Archives is feminine plural.

Les dispositions en vertu desquelles cette décision a été prise.

The provisions by virtue of which this decision was made.

Dispositions is feminine plural; 'en vertu de' is highly formal/legal.

Les exigences au mépris desquelles il a agi.

The requirements in defiance of which he acted.

Exigences is feminine plural; 'au mépris de' means 'disregarding' or 'in defiance of'.

Les hypothèses sur la base desquelles l'étude repose.

The hypotheses on the basis of which the study rests.

Hypothèses is feminine plural.

Les nuances à l'aide desquelles il décrit la scène.

The nuances with the help of which he describes the scene.

Nuances is feminine plural.

Les valeurs à l'aune desquelles nous jugeons son œuvre.

The values by the yardstick of which we judge his work.

Valeurs is feminine plural; 'à l'aune de' is a literary way to say 'judged by'.

Les contraintes en dépit desquelles elle a terminé son projet.

The constraints despite which she finished her project.

Contraintes is feminine plural.

Les perspectives au travers desquelles nous voyons le monde.

The perspectives through which we see the world.

Perspectives is feminine plural.

Les instances auprès desquelles il a déposé sa plainte.

The authorities with which he filed his complaint.

Instances is feminine plural; 'auprès de' is used for people/authorities.

Les vicissitudes au gré desquelles sa fortune a fluctué.

The ups and downs at the mercy of which his fortune fluctuated.

Vicissitudes is feminine plural; 'au gré de' means 'at the mercy/whim of'.

Les prémisses à partir desquelles s'élabore sa démonstration.

The premises from which his demonstration is elaborated.

Prémisses is feminine plural.

Les conventions au-delà desquelles il s'aventure.

The conventions beyond which he adventures.

Conventions is feminine plural.

Les contingences à l'intérieur desquelles s'inscrit son action.

The contingencies within which his action is framed.

Contingences is feminine plural.

Les doléances à la suite desquelles le règlement fut modifié.

The grievances following which the regulation was modified.

Doléances is feminine plural.

Les assertions au soutien desquelles il ne produit aucun fait.

The assertions in support of which he produces no facts.

Assertions is feminine plural.

Les entraves à l'ombre desquelles la liberté s'étiole.

The shackles in the shadow of which freedom withers.

Entraves is feminine plural.

Les péripéties au terme desquelles le héros triomphe.

The adventures at the end of which the hero triumphs.

Péripéties is feminine plural.

Häufige Kollokationen

à cause desquelles

au sujet desquelles

à propos desquelles

en face desquelles

à la suite desquelles

au milieu desquelles

près desquelles

loin desquelles

au sein desquelles

en vertu desquelles

Häufige Phrasen

Les raisons à cause desquelles

— The reasons because of which. Used to explain the cause of an event involving feminine plural nouns.

Voici les raisons à cause desquelles j'ai refusé.

Les conditions dans lesquelles

— The conditions in which. Note: Often 'dans lesquelles' is used, but 'dans le cadre desquelles' is more formal.

Les conditions au sein desquelles nous travaillons.

Les preuves à l'appui desquelles

— The evidence in support of which. Used in formal arguments.

Les preuves à l'appui desquelles il fonde son accusation.

Les amies à côté desquelles

— The friends next to whom. A common physical description.

Les amies à côté desquelles je m'assois en classe.

Les idées à partir desquelles

— The ideas from which. Used to describe the origin of a concept.

Les idées à partir desquelles le film a été conçu.

Les conséquences à la suite desquelles

— The consequences following which. Used in logical sequencing.

Les conséquences à la suite desquelles nous avons dû agir.

Les fenêtres en face desquelles

— The windows opposite which. Used in architectural descriptions.

Les fenêtres en face desquelles se trouve le jardin.

Les théories au sujet desquelles

— The theories about which. Standard academic phrasing.

Les théories au sujet desquelles nous avons lu.

Les traditions au nom desquelles

— The traditions in the name of which. Used for cultural or social justifications.

Les traditions au nom desquelles ils agissent.

Les archives à la lumière desquelles

— The archives in light of which. Used in historical research.

Les archives à la lumière desquelles nous comprenons le passé.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

desquelles vs dont

'Dont' is for simple 'de' relationships; 'desquelles' is for multi-word prepositions.

desquelles vs desquels

'Desquels' is masculine plural; 'desquelles' is feminine plural.

desquelles vs de lesquelles

This is a grammatical error; you must use the contracted form 'desquelles'.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"à l'aune desquelles"

— Judged by the yardstick of which. A very literary idiom.

Les valeurs à l'aune desquelles nous mesurons le succès.

literary

"au mépris desquelles"

— In total disregard of which.

Les règles au mépris desquelles il a conduit.

formal

"à la faveur desquelles"

— Thanks to which / by means of which.

Les circonstances à la faveur desquelles il a été élu.

literary

"au gré desquelles"

— At the mercy or whim of which.

Les vagues au gré desquelles le bateau dérivait.

literary

"sous l'égide desquelles"

— Under the aegis/protection of which.

Les lois sous l'égide desquelles nous vivons.

formal

"à l'issue desquelles"

— At the conclusion of which.

Les négociations à l'issue desquelles la paix fut signée.

formal

"en vertu desquelles"

— By virtue of which / according to which.

Les clauses en vertu desquelles il est payé.

legal

"au travers desquelles"

— Through which (often abstractly).

Les lunettes au travers desquelles il voit la vie.

neutral

"à l'encontre desquelles"

— Against which / contrary to which.

Les mesures à l'encontre desquelles nous protestons.

formal

"au fur et à mesure desquelles"

— As they progress / in proportion to which.

Les étapes au fur et à mesure desquelles le projet avance.

neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

desquelles vs desquels

They sound very similar.

Desquels is for masculine plural nouns (les garçons); desquelles is for feminine plural (les filles).

Les garçons à côté desquels... vs Les filles à côté desquelles...

desquelles vs dont

Both translate to 'of which'.

Dont is used for verbs like 'parler de'. Desquelles is used for locutions like 'à cause de'.

Les amies dont je parle vs Les amies à cause desquelles je ris.

desquelles vs auxquelles

Both are long relative pronouns.

Auxquelles is 'à' + 'lesquelles'; desquelles is 'de' + 'lesquelles'.

Les amies auxquelles je pense vs Les amies à côté desquelles je suis.

desquelles vs lesquelles

It's the base form.

Lesquelles is used when the preposition doesn't end in 'de' or 'à' (e.g., sur lesquelles).

Les tables sur lesquelles... vs Les tables près desquelles...

desquelles vs de qui

Both can refer to people.

De qui is only for people and feels slightly more natural in speech; desquelles can be for things or people.

Les femmes de qui je parle vs Les femmes à côté desquelles je travaille.

Satzmuster

Les [N f.pl] près desquelles [S + V]

Les chaises près desquelles je suis assis.

Les [N f.pl] à cause desquelles [S + V]

Les raisons à cause desquelles elle pleure.

Les [N f.pl] au sujet desquelles [S + V]

Les questions au sujet desquelles nous débattons.

Les [N f.pl] en vertu desquelles [S + V]

Les lois en vertu desquelles il est condamné.

Les [N f.pl] à l'issue desquelles [S + V]

Les réunions à l'issue desquelles nous avons décidé.

Les [N f.pl] au mépris desquelles [S + V]

Les règles au mépris desquelles il a agi.

Les [N f.pl] à l'aune desquelles [S + V]

Les œuvres à l'aune desquelles on le juge.

Les [N f.pl] le long desquelles [S + V]

Les rivières le long desquelles nous marchons.

Wortfamilie

Verwandt

lesquelles

desquels

duquel

de laquelle

auxquelles

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Low in daily speech, high in formal writing.

Häufige Fehler

Using 'desquels' for feminine nouns. → Les maisons à côté desquelles...
Masculine plural is 'desquels'; feminine plural is 'desquelles'. You must match the noun's gender.
Writing 'de lesquelles'. → Les fleurs desquelles...
French requires the contraction of 'de' + 'lesquelles' into 'desquelles'.
Using 'dont' after a complex preposition. → Les raisons à cause desquelles...
'Dont' cannot be used if there is another preposition like 'à cause' involved.
Pronouncing the 's' at the end. → Pronounce it like 'kell'.
The final 's' in French relative pronouns is almost always silent.
Forgetting the 's' in writing. → desquelles (with an 's')
Since it is plural, you must include the 's' even if it is not pronounced.

Tipps

The 'De' Test

If your prepositional phrase ends in 'de' (like 'près de'), use the 'des-' form. If it doesn't (like 'sur'), use the 'les-' form.

Formal Writing

Using 'desquelles' instead of rephrasing with 'dont' can make your formal letters sound more sophisticated and precise.

Gender Check

Always look back at the noun. If it's 'les fleurs', it's feminine. If it's 'les arbres', it's masculine. This determines 'desquelles' vs 'desquels'.

Avoid in Slang

Don't use 'desquelles' when hanging out with friends; it will sound like you're reading a textbook. Use simpler sentences instead.

Silent 'S'

Remember that the 's' is silent. Focus on the 'kell' sound at the end. It's much simpler than it looks!

Bridge Building

When you see 'desquelles', treat it as a bridge. Look at the 'island' (noun) before the bridge to understand the sentence.

No 'De Lesquelles'

Never write 'de lesquelles'. Your brain might want to, but the contraction 'desquelles' is mandatory.

Learn the Locutions

The best way to master 'desquelles' is to learn prepositions like 'à cause de' and 'au sujet de' first.

Target B2

If you are aiming for a B2 certificate (DELF), being able to use this word correctly will gain you many points in the grammar section.

She-She

Remember: Qu-elles = Elles = She. Use it for the 'girls' (feminine nouns).

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Des-Quelles' as 'DE-SHE-SHE'. The 'des' comes from 'de', and 'quelles' sounds like 'elles' (they - feminine). So it's 'of them (the ladies)'.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine two women (feminine plural) standing next to a sign that says 'DE'. The word bridges the women to the rest of the sentence.

Word Web

de lesquelles feminine plural relative formal agreement contraction

Herausforderung

Try to write three sentences describing 'les vacances' (feminine plural) using 'à cause desquelles', 'au cours desquelles', and 'à la fin desquelles'.

Wortherkunft

Formed in Middle French as a contraction of the preposition 'de' and the relative pronoun 'lesquelles'. 'Lesquelles' itself comes from the definite article 'les' and 'quelles' (from Latin 'qualis').

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Literally 'of which ones' (feminine).

Romance (Indo-European).

Kultureller Kontext

No specific sensitivities, but using it in a very casual setting (like a bar) might make you sound slightly 'snobbish' or overly formal.

English speakers find this hard because 'which' is gender-neutral. We use 'of which' for everything, whereas French forces you to choose between four versions (duquel, de laquelle, desquels, desquelles).

Found in the legal codes of the Napoleonic Code. Used frequently in the 'Mémoires' of Saint-Simon. Common in the formal speeches of Charles de Gaulle.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Legal Documents

Les clauses en vertu desquelles...
Les conditions à l'issue desquelles...
Les lois au sein desquelles...
Les mesures à l'encontre desquelles...

Academic Writing

Les théories à partir desquelles...
Les hypothèses à l'appui desquelles...
Les sources au travers desquelles...
Les données à la lumière desquelles...

Describing Locations

Les maisons en face desquelles...
Les montagnes au pied desquelles...
Les rues le long desquelles...
Les chaises à côté desquelles...

Business Meetings

Les réformes au sujet desquelles...
Les décisions à la suite desquelles...
Les entreprises au sein desquelles...
Les questions à propos desquelles...

Literature

Les ombres au milieu desquelles...
Les voix à l'écoute desquelles...
Les terres au-delà desquelles...
Les âmes à la rencontre desquelles...

Gesprächseinstiege

"Quelles sont les valeurs au nom desquelles tu agis au quotidien ?"

"Y a-t-il des amies à côté desquelles tu te sens toujours inspirée ?"

"Quelles sont les villes le long desquelles tu aimerais voyager ?"

"Quelles sont les erreurs à cause desquelles tu as le plus appris ?"

"Parle-moi des théories à partir desquelles tu as formé ton opinion."

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décrivez les circonstances à la suite desquelles vous avez pris une décision importante dans votre vie.

Écrivez sur les personnes à côté desquelles vous avez grandi et ce qu'elles vous ont apporté.

Réfléchissez aux traditions au nom desquelles votre famille célèbre les fêtes.

Quelles sont les idées au sujet desquelles vous aimeriez écrire un livre un jour ?

Décrivez un paysage avec des montagnes au pied desquelles vous vous sentez en paix.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Only if the verb is followed by a simple 'de'. If you are using a prepositional phrase like 'à côté de' or 'en face de', you must use 'desquelles' to be grammatically correct. 'Dont' cannot follow another preposition.

No, it can be used for people, especially in formal writing. However, for people, 'de qui' is often used in neutral speech. For objects, 'desquelles' (or its masculine/singular variants) is the only option after a complex preposition.

You must learn the gender of the noun. Most nouns ending in '-tion' or '-té' are feminine. If there is an 's' or 'x' at the end, it's plural. For example, 'les décisions' or 'les cités'.

No, the 's' is silent. The word ends with the 'l' sound from 'quelles'. It sounds like 'day-kell'.

In French, 'de' and 'les' always contract to 'des'. This rule applies even when they are part of a longer word like 'lesquelles'. Saying 'de lesquelles' is considered a major grammatical error.

You should start practicing it at the B1/B2 level. At A1/A2, just focus on recognizing it when you read. By B2, you should try to use it in your formal essays.

The masculine plural form is 'desquels'. It is used for nouns like 'les livres' (the books) or 'les problèmes' (the problems).

Most of the time, yes. But depending on the preposition, it could mean 'from which' (loin desquelles) or 'about which' (au sujet desquelles).

No, relative pronouns like 'desquelles' must follow the noun they refer to. They link a main clause to a subordinate clause.

Yes, it is used in Quebec in the same formal contexts as in France—legal, academic, and formal writing.

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