welcher
/ˈvɛlçər/
In German, "which one" is expressed by welcher, the default form.
The phrase is used to ask for a specific choice among a group of people or things.
Which one should you use?
While welcher is the default form, the word changes based on the gender and number of the noun you are referring to. Use welcher for masculine nouns, welche for feminine or plural nouns and welches for neuter nouns.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form welcher is the masculine nominative singular form. Use welche for feminine nominative/accusative or plural nominative/accusative cases. Use welches for neuter nominative/accusative cases.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈvɛlçər/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use welcher for all genders. You must match the gender of the noun being identified. For example, use welche for die Tasche (the bag).
Did you know?
- Because welcher must change based on gender, a German speaker knows the gender of the object you are thinking of just by the form of the word you use, even if you do not name the object.
- The word welcher is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'which'. Both words trace their lineage back to the same Proto-Germanic root, *hwilīkaz.
- While welcher asks 'which one', German uses was für ein when asking 'what kind of' thing something is. Using welcher suggests a limited set of visible options, while was für ein asks for a general category.
Examples in context
- Welcher ist dein Vater?Which one is your dad?This sentence is useful for identifying a person using welcher.Tatoeba #10967030 by Yorwba, translation #11126748 by sundown
- Welcher passt dir besser?Which one suits you better?This sentence is useful for asking about preference using welcher.Tatoeba #12190420 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #12152944 by sundown
- Welcher Fluss ist der längste Afrikas?Which one is the longest river of Africa?This sentence is useful for identifying a river using welcher.Tatoeba #12287409 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #7903949 by maaster
- Welcher gefällt dir am besten?Which one do you like the most?
- Hallo! Welches Eis schmeckt dir am besten? Das Schokoladeneis oder das Vanilleeis?Hello! Which ice cream do you like the most? The chocolate ice cream or the vanilla ice cream?
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Maximilian are choosing a cake at a bakery.
- SarahWir brauchen einen Kuchen. Welcher schmeckt am besten?We need a cake. Which one tastes the best?
- MaximilianIch glaube, der mit Schokolade ist toll.I think the one with chocolate is great.
- SarahWelcher ist denn weniger süß?Which one is less sweet then?
- MaximilianDann nimm lieber den mit Zitrone, Sarah.Then better take the one with lemon, Sarah.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry welcher, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries welcher, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
