A relative pronoun (un pronom relatif in French) is one such as qui, que, lequel, dont and où. They are equivalent to the following 7 English words: that, when, where, which, who, whom, and whose.

A relative pronoun replaces a preceding noun called an antecedent.

A relative pronoun introduces a (subordinate) relative clause and link it to a main clause.

Le prof qui enseigne les maths est Anglais. / The teacher who teaches math is an Englishman. 

(The underlined portion represents the relative clause and qui is the relative pronoun connecting it to the main clause "Le prof est anglais." The preceding noun (antecedent) is le prof)

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Here are some French sentences containing relative pronouns.

Je ne connais pas la ville où vous habitez. I don't know the town where you live.

Elle a peur du chien qui aboit. She is afraid of the dog that is barking.

Nous boirons le vin que vous avez apporté.  We will drink the wine you brought.

Connais-tu la voiture dont Rémi parle? Do you know the car about whom Remi is talking?

Voici le tiroir dans lequel j'ai mis ton stylo. Here is the drawer in which I placed your pen.

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