vilken

Vilken is a Swedish interrogative determiner and pronoun meaning which or what. It is used to identify a specific item or subset from a known set, or to ask about identity or choice.

Forms and agreement: The form of vilken changes to match the gender and number of the noun it modifies. Vilken is used with common gender singular nouns (en-words) as in vilken bok (which book). Vilket is used with neuter singular nouns (ett-words), as in vilket hus (which house). Vilka is the plural form, as in vilka böcker (which books) or vilka dagar (which days). When used as a standalone pronoun, the forms vilke, vilka, or simply Vilken? can function as “which one?” or “which ones?”

Usage: Vilken is employed in questions as well as in certain exclamations. Examples: Vilken färg gillar du? (Which color do you like?), Vilken av dem vill komma? (Which of them wants to come?). In Swedish, relative clauses more commonly use som rather than vilken, though vilken forms may appear in more formal or archaic styles.

Etymology and cognates: Vilken derives from archaic Germanic forms and is cognate with Danish and Norwegian hvilken, and with German welcher in the broader family. It is related to other Germanic interrogatives used to pick out a member from a set.

See also: Swedish pronouns and determiners, Interrogative words in Swedish, Comparative grammar of Swedish.