Interrogative welch-
B1 · Intermediate · Advanced Structures
The rule
welcher, welche, welches take article endings.
How it works
Welcher, welche, welches (which) is used in questions about a choice among a set. It takes adjective-like endings that agree with the noun it refers to: Welcher Mantel gefällt dir? Welche Farbe magst du? Welches Auto ist deins? The forms are the same as the der-words, so learning the der pattern helps here too.
When to use it
Ask which one with welcher, welche, welches, which take article-like endings and agree with the noun.
Use cases
- Choosing between options: Welches Hemd möchtest du?
- Asking which person: Welcher Lehrer unterrichtet Deutsch?
- Asking in a shop: Welche Größe brauchen Sie?
Examples
- Welches Buch liest du? – Which book are you reading?
- Welcher Weg ist der kürzeste? – Which path is the shortest?
- Welches Buch hast du gelesen? – Which book did you read?
- Welche Stadt besuchst du zuerst? – Which city are you visiting first?
Common mistake
Confusing welch- with was (what): welcher agrees with a noun.
Memory tip
Welcher, welche, welches = which one, and they follow the der/die/das endings.