what
what
pronoun
determiner
/wɒt/
1 used in questions to ask for particular information about somebody/something
What is your name?
What (= what job) does he do?
What time is it?
What kind of music do you like?
COMPARE which
2 the thing or things that; whatever
What you need is a good meal.
Nobody knows what will happen next.
I spent what little time I had with my family.
3 used to say that you think that something is especially good, bad, etc.
What awful weather!
What a beautiful house!
Idioms
and what not | and what have you
​(informal) and other things of the same type
It's full of old toys, books and what not.
come what may
​despite any problems or difficulties you may have
He promised to support her come what may.
get/give somebody what for
​(informal) to be punished/punish somebody severely
I'll give her what for if she does that again.
or what
(informal)
​used to emphasize your opinion
Is he stupid or what?
TOPICS Opinion and argumentC1
​used when you are not sure about something
I don't know if he's a teacher or what.
Are we going now or what?
TOPICS Doubt, guessing and certaintyC1
say what?
​(North American English, informal) used to express surprise at what somebody has just said
‘He's getting married.’ ‘Say what?’
so what?
​(informal) used to show that you think something is not important, especially after somebody has criticized you for it
‘He's fifteen years younger than you!’ ‘So what?’
So what if nobody else agrees with me?
what?
(informal)
​used when you have not heard or have not understood something
What? I can't hear you.
​used to show that you have heard somebody and to ask what they want
‘Mummy!’ ‘What?’ ‘I'm thirsty.’
​used to express surprise or anger
‘It will cost $500.’ ‘What?’
‘I asked her to marry me.’ ‘You what?’
what about…?
(informal)
​ used to make a suggestion
What about a trip to France?
TOPICS Suggestions and adviceA1
​ used to introduce somebody/something into the conversation
What about you, Joe? Do you like football?
what-d’you-call-him/-her/-it/-them | what’s-his/-her/-its/-their-name
​used instead of a name that you cannot remember
She's just gone out with old what-d'you-call-him.
what for?
​for what purpose or reason?
What is this tool for?
What did you do that for (= why did you do that)?
‘I need to see a doctor.’ ‘What for?’
what if…?
​what would happen if?
What if the train is late?
What if she forgets to bring it?
what of it?
​(informal) used when admitting that something is true, to ask why it should be considered important
Yes, I wrote the article. What of it?
what’s all that about?
(British English)
(North American English what’s up with that?)
​used to suggest that something you have heard is a stupid idea or does not make sense
They dropped their best player. What's all that about?
(know) what’s what
​(informal) (know) what things are useful, important, etc.
She certainly knows what's what.
what’s with somebody?
​(North American English, informal) used to ask why somebody is behaving in a strange way
What's with you? You haven't said a word all morning.
what’s with something?
​(North American English, informal) used to ask the reason for something
What's with all this walking? Can't we take a cab?
what with something
​used to list the various reasons for something
What with the cold weather and my bad leg, I haven't been out for weeks.
Word Origin
Old English hwæt, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wat and German was, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin quod.