An alkenyl ether derivative having a low viscosity, a good compatibility with other liquid crystalline compounds and being capable of use in preparing a liquid crystal display element having a high response rate are provided, which derivative is expressed by the formulaR.sub.1 --CH.sub.2 --O--(CH.sub.2)n--A.sub.1 --A.sub.2 A.sub.3 --R.sub.2[1]wherein R.sub.1 is a 2-7C alkenyl group having a double bond at its terminal or a double bond of a trans configuration at a position other than its terminal, R.sub.2 is 1-10C alkyl group or alkoxy group, A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 each independently are a 1,4-phenylene or a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, A.sub.3 represents a 1,4-phenylene, a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or a single bond and n is 1 or 2.