welcher vs. was für ein
German has two question words where English often just uses "what" or "which." Mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes at A2 level, but the rule is surprisingly simple once you see it.
welcher = which one — you are picking from a known, limited set. was für ein = what kind of — you are asking about the type or quality of something. Master this distinction and your questions will immediately sound more natural.
welcher – Asking "Which One?"
Use welcher when you are choosing or identifying a specific item from a known group. It is the German equivalent of English "which" and must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case — just like the demonstrative dieser.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | welcher | welche | welches | welche |
| Accusative | welchen | welche | welches | welche |
| Dative | welchem | welcher | welchem | welchen |
| Genitive | welches | welcher | welches | welcher |
Quick check: Can you mentally point to the candidates? ("The red one or the blue one?") → Use welcher.
was für ein – Asking "What Kind of?"
Use was für ein when you want to know the type, nature, or quality of something. It translates as "what kind of" (or in exclamations, "what a!"). The phrase was für never changes; only ein declines like the indefinite article. In the plural, ein disappears entirely — just use was für directly before the noun.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | was für ein | was für eine | was für ein | was für |
| Accusative | was für einen | was für eine | was für ein | was für |
| Dative | was für einem | was für einer | was für einem | was für |
Quick check: Could you answer with a category or description? ("It's a thriller." / "A cheap one.") → Use was für ein.
Side-by-Side Summary
| welcher | was für ein | |
|---|---|---|
| English | which (one) | what kind of |
| Context | select from a known set | ask about type / quality |
| Example question | Welches Kleid möchtest du? | Was für ein Kleid ist das? |
| Implied answer | "The red one." | "It's a summer dress." |
| Plural | Welche Bücher…? | Was für Bücher…? |
Tip: If you can add "specifically" in your English translation and it still makes sense, use welcher. If "sort of" fits better, use was für ein.
📖 Examples
Welchen Bus muss ich nehmen?
Which bus do I have to take?
Was für ein Bus ist das – ein Stadtbus oder ein Fernbus?
What kind of bus is that – a city bus or a long-distance bus?
Welches Zimmer haben Sie gebucht?
Which room did you book?
Was für ein Zimmer möchten Sie – Einzel oder Doppel?
What kind of room would you like – single or double?
Welche Sprache lernst du gerade?
Which language are you learning at the moment?
Was für Sprachen interessieren dich?
What kinds of languages interest you?
In welchem Restaurant haben sie gegessen?
In which restaurant did they eat?
Was für einen Job suchst du?
What kind of job are you looking for?
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Was für ein Bus fährt zum Bahnhof?Welcher Bus fährt zum Bahnhof?
If bus routes exist and you want to identify the correct one, you are selecting from a known set — use *welcher*, not *was für ein*.
Welche Art von Musik magst du?Was für Musik magst du?
Translating "what kind of" word-for-word as *welche Art von* is grammatically possible but unnatural. Germans simply say *was für* for type or quality questions.
Was für ein Bücher liest du?Was für Bücher liest du?
In the plural the indefinite article *ein* is dropped. *Was für* is used directly before the plural noun with no article.
Welchen Musik hörst du?Was für Musik hörst du?
Two errors at once: *Musik* is uncountable, so no article follows *was für* (correct), but also the speaker is asking about type, not picking from a list — so *welcher* is wrong here entirely. Even if *welche* were used, *Musik* is feminine, not masculine accusative (*welchen*).
✏️ Exercises
Test your understanding. Click an option or type your answer, then check.
You are looking at three dogs in a pet shelter and want to know which one your friend prefers. Which question do you ask?
You spot a stranger reading an unusual-looking book and want to know what type it is. Which question is correct?
A shop assistant shows you two coats and asks which one you want. How does she phrase the question?
Choose the correct question: you want to know what kind of films your new colleague enjoys.
You are at a restaurant with a printed menu listing four soups. You ask the waiter which soup he recommends. What do you say?
Fill in the blank: ___ Job suchst du eigentlich — etwas im Büro oder lieber draußen?
___ (welcher) Zug fährt nach Hamburg – der ICE oder der Intercity?
Das ist aber ein schickes Fahrrad! ___ (was für ein) Fahrrad ist das?
Ich kenne drei Cafés in der Nähe. ___ (welcher) Café empfiehlst du?
___ (was für ein) Bücher liest deine Schwester am liebsten?