Meaning of what in English

What is a wh-word. We use what to ask questions and as a pronoun and determiner. …

We can use what to ask for information about things and actions: …

We can use what in informal situations to ask someone to repeat something if we don’t hear it or understand it: …

We can ask emphatic questions using whatever or what on earth to express shock or surprise. We stress ever and earth: …

We can use what as a pronoun to mean ‘the thing(s) that’: …

We can use what in exclamations to express a strong feeling or opinion. In this case, we use what as a determiner before a noun or before a/an (+ adjective) + noun: …

We can use what … for? in two ways. We can use it in informal situations to mean why?: …

Questions: interrogative pronouns (what, who)

Idioms

or what?
what about?
what if?
what is he, are they, etc. like?
what of it?
what's on
what's that (all) about (then)?
what's up?
what's what

what

pronoun

/wɒt/ us

/wɑːt/

what pronoun (THAT WHICH)

the thing(s) that; that which:

What I wanted to find out first was how long it was going to take.

What really concerned her was how unhappy the child was.

She wouldn't tell me what he said.

I didn't have much money on me but I gave them what I had.

The letter showed clearly what they were planning.

what to I can't decide what to do next.

Have you thought about what to send as a present?

used to introduce something you are going to say:

guess what You'll never guess what - Laurie won first prize!

tell you what I'll tell you what - we'll pick up something to eat on our way home.

More examplesFewer examples

His story of what happened that night didn't correspond with the witness's version.
Please describe to the court exactly what you saw.
If you'd told me what was wrong I could have helped.
They need clear instructions on what to do next.
It's unclear what actually happened that night.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Linguistics: relative forms

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Grammar

We use interrogative pronouns to ask questions. They are: who, which, whom, what and whose. These are also known as wh-words. Questions using these are called wh-questions: …

Interrogative pronouns: uses

We use who and whom on their own: …

What is a wh-word. We use what to ask questions and as a pronoun and determiner. …

We can use what to ask for information about things and actions: …

We can use what in informal situations to ask someone to repeat something if we don’t hear it or understand it: …

We can ask emphatic questions using whatever or what on earth to express shock or surprise. We stress ever and earth: …

We can use what as a pronoun to mean ‘the thing(s) that’: …

We can use what in exclamations to express a strong feeling or opinion. In this case, we use what as a determiner before a noun or before a/an (+ adjective) + noun: …

We can use what … for? in two ways. We can use it in informal situations to mean why?: …

Idioms

and what have you
what with
what/whatever someone says goes
what's more

what

predeterminer, determiner

/wɒt/ us

/wɑːt/

what predeterminer, determiner (OPINION)

used to introduce your opinion:

"She can't come." "What a shame/pity."

What an amazing view!

What nonsense!

What strange clothes he was wearing.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Expressing and asking opinions

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Grammar

What is a wh-word. We use what to ask questions and as a pronoun and determiner. …

We can use what to ask for information about things and actions: …

We can use what in informal situations to ask someone to repeat something if we don’t hear it or understand it: …

We can ask emphatic questions using whatever or what on earth to express shock or surprise. We stress ever and earth: …

We can use what as a pronoun to mean ‘the thing(s) that’: …

We can use what in exclamations to express a strong feeling or opinion. In this case, we use what as a determiner before a noun or before a/an (+ adjective) + noun: …

We can use what … for? in two ways. We can use it in informal situations to mean why?: …

We use exclamations to express surprise or shock or a strong emotion about something. The type of phrase or clause associated with exclamations is called exclamative. …

what

pronoun, exclamation

informal

/wɒt/ us

/wɑːt/

what pronoun, exclamation (QUESTION)

used to ask someone to say something again:

"I think we should leave at twelve." "What?" "I said I think we should leave at twelve."

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Linguistics: question words & expressions

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Grammar

Exclamations

What …!

We can use what + noun phrase ((+ verb) (+ tag)): …

How …!

We often use how followed by an adjective only: …

Exclamatives with interrogative form

We sometimes make an exclamation using interrogative (question) word order: …

Questions: interrogative pronouns (what, who)

We use interrogative pronouns to ask questions. They are: who, which, whom, what and whose. These are also known as wh-words. Questions using these are called wh-questions: …

Interrogative pronouns: uses

We use who and whom on their own: …

What is a wh-word. We use what to ask questions and as a pronoun and determiner. …

We can use what to ask for information about things and actions: …

We can use what in informal situations to ask someone to repeat something if we don’t hear it or understand it: …

We can ask emphatic questions using whatever or what on earth to express shock or surprise. We stress ever and earth: …

We can use what as a pronoun to mean ‘the thing(s) that’: …

We can use what in exclamations to express a strong feeling or opinion. In this case, we use what as a determiner before a noun or before a/an (+ adjective) + noun: …

We can use what … for? in two ways. We can use it in informal situations to mean why?: …