Relative pronouns - Chart
Relativpronomen
| Kasus | Masculino | Femenino | Neutro | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der/welcher | die/welche | das/welches | die/welche |
| Akkusativ | den/welchen | die/welche | das/welches | die/welche |
| Dativ | dem/welchem | der/welcher | dem/welchem | denen/welchen |
| Genitiv | dessen | deren | dessen | deren/derer |
*Derer: plural, formal
In German, both "der" and "welcher" can function as relative pronouns, but they differ in usage, formality, and style.
"Der" (der/die/das) as a relative pronoun is more commonly used in everyday speech and writing. It’s straightforward and sounds natural, similar to the English "who," "that," or "which.
"Welcher" (welcher/welche/welches) is less common and considered more formal or emphatic. It’s often used to avoid ambiguity, particularly in complex sentences, legal language, technical texts, academic or scientific writing, governmental or official announcements.
Tip❗:
- Use "der" if you’re aiming for a more natural and conversational tone. E.g:
Das Buch, das ich lese, ist spannend. (The book that I am reading is exciting.) - Use "welcher" if you want to add a bit of emphasis or if you’re in a formal context. E.g:
Der Vertrag, welcher zwischen den Parteien geschlossen wurde, ist bindend.
(The contract which was signed between the parties is binding.)
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