hvilke

Hvilke is an interrogative determiner used in Norwegian (and Danish) to refer to a selection from a group, equivalent to the English "which" or "which ones." In Norwegian Bokmål, it is the plural form that accompanies plural nouns. The corresponding singular forms are hvilken (masculine and feminine) and hvilket (neuter).

Hvilke is used in direct questions and in embedded questions, typically before a noun: "Hvilke bøker liker du?" (Which books do you like?) and "Hvilke av disse vil du lese?" (Which of these do you want to read?). As a general rule, it precedes the noun it modifies and agrees in number with that noun.

In Norwegian, hvilke functions primarily as a determiner. It can appear in some formal or older relative-clause constructions as "bøkene hvilke jeg kjøpte" (the books which I bought), though in everyday language the relative pronoun "som" is more common: "bøkene jeg kjøpte."

Etymology and cognates: Hvilke is part of the North Germanic family and is cognate with Danish hvilket/hvilke, sharing the same root as other interrogatives. In Swedish, the corresponding word is ofta "vilka," while Norwegian and Danish retain "hvilke." Related forms include hvilken and hvilket, which correspond to different gender and number forms.

See also: Norwegian interrogatives, which and hvilke usage, Norwegian grammar, Danish equivalents.