A novel liquid crystalline compound having a low viscosity and a high elastic constant ratio and at the same time, a superior compatibility with other known liquid crystalline compounds, and a liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal display element containing the novel compound, are provided. The compound is an alkenylcyclohexane derivative expressed by the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 15 carbon atoms or alkenyl group of 2 to 15 carbon atoms; at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents an alkenyl group; in these groups, one or more non-adjacent CH.sub.2 groups may be replaced by oxygen atom, sulfur atom or --C.tbd.C-- group; ring A.sup.1, ring A.sup.2 and ring A.sup.3 each independently represent 1,4-cyclohexylene group wherein one or more CH.sub.2 groups on the ring may be replaced by oxygen atom or sulfur atom, or 1,4-phenylene group wherein one or more CH groups on the ring may be replaced by nitrogen atom; Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 each independently represent --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 --, --CH.dbd.CH--, --C.tbd.C-- or single bond; Z.sup.3 represents --(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --, --CH.dbd.CH--(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 -- or --(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--; and m, n and i each independently represent 0 or 1.