Learn German: Wir lasen das Profil des Neuen. - We read the profile of the new one m.

Neuen is a nominalized adjective. This means the adjective neu is used as a noun here to mean "the new guy," so it must be capitalized. Even though it acts like a noun, it still takes standard adjective endings. Since it is in the genitive case after the definite article des, it gets the -en ending.

Why do we use the genitive case (des Neuen) here?

The genitive case is used to show possession or belonging. In English, we say "the profile of the new guy" or "the new guy's profile." In German, this relationship is expressed by putting the possessor (der Neue) into the genitive case (des Neuen).

How would the sentence change if "the new one" referred to a female?

The genitive definite article would change from the masculine des to the feminine der, making the sentence Wir lasen das Profil der Neuen. The ending on Neuen remains -en because adjectives following a definite article in the genitive case always end in -en, regardless of gender.

I am more used to seeing Wir haben gelesen. When do I use Wir lasen?