welke/welk

Which

Level 1

Welke and welk both mean 'which'. They are used when you are choosing from a specific, limited set of options (e.g., 'Which of these three books?').

How It Works

In Dutch, 'which' changes its form based on the noun it describes:

  • Welke is used for de-words (common gender) and all plural nouns.
  • Welk is used only for singular het-words (neuter gender).

Unlike wat voor een (which asks 'what kind of'), welke/welk implies you are selecting from a known group. For example, if you ask 'Welke auto?', you are likely pointing at a few specific cars.

Standalone Use:
When used without a noun (e.g., 'Which one do you want?'), the form still matches the gender of the noun you are referring to. However, in modern spoken Dutch, welke is becoming increasingly common as a general standalone form, though using the correct gender is always better.

Examples (5)

  1. Welke kleur vind jij het mooist?

    Which color do you like best?

    Word by Word: Which color find you the most-beautiful?

    We use 'welke' because 'kleur' is a de-word (de kleur).

  2. Welk station is dit?

    Which station is this?

    Word by Word: Which station is this?

    We use 'welk' because 'station' is a het-word (het station).

  3. Welke boeken wil je lezen?

    Which books do you want to read?

    Word by Word: Which books want you read?

    We use 'welke' because 'boeken' is plural, and all plurals use 'welke'.

  4. Er liggen twee sleutels. Welke is van jou?

    There are two keys lying here. Which one is yours?

    Word by Word: There lie two keys. Which is of you?

    Here 'welke' stands alone but refers back to 'sleutel' (a de-word).

  5. Welk kind speelt daar?

    Which child is playing there?

    Word by Word: Which child plays there?

    Even though it refers to a person, we use 'welk' because 'kind' is grammatically a het-word.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'welke' for all singular nouns.

    Welke boek lees je?
    Welk boek lees je?

    Learners often forget that het-words require 'welk' without the -e ending.

  • Using 'welke' when you mean 'wat voor'.

    Different MeaningWelke auto heb je?
    Wat voor auto heb je?

    'Welke auto heb je?' is good Dutch, but it asks you to pick one from a known group. 'Wat voor auto' asks for the kind or type (for example, a Tesla or a Ford).

How It Connects

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welke/welkLevel 1Which

Learn This First

To use 'welke' and 'welk' correctly, you must understand the Dutch gender system (de vs. het), as 'welke' is used for common gender nouns and plurals, while 'welk' is used for singular neuter nouns.

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Words in This Pattern

welkwelk