The relative pronouns welcher, welche, welches
We can use welcher, welche and welches (all meaning “that” or “whom”) to refer to a previous noun and describe it in more detail.
Ich höre die Musik. Die Musik ist schön. → Die Musik, welche ich höre, ist schön.
I'm listening to the music. The music is beautiful. → The music that I'm listening to is beautiful.
Ich schreibe einem Kunden. Der Kunde ist reich. → Der Kunde, welchem ich schreibe, ist reich.
I am writing to a client. The client is rich. → The client to whom I am writing is rich.
We add the relevant adjective ending associated with the definite article to welcher:
| Nominativ | Akkusativ | Dativ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| maskulin | welcher | welchen | welchem |
| feminin | welche | welche | welcher |
| neutrum | welches | welches | welchem |
| Plural | welche | welche | welchen |
Notes:
- The relative pronouns der, die, das Relativpronomen are used more frequently than welcher, welche, welches.
Die Sprache, welche ich spreche, ist Deutsch. = Die Sprache, die ich spreche, ist Deutsch.
Both sentences mean “The language that I am speaking is German”, but the version using die is more common than the version using welche.
- Welcher is not used in the genitive. Genitiv
- Welcher is also used to mean “which” when asking a question.
-Welche Farbe magst du? -Blau.
‑Which color do you like? ‑Blue.
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