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det A1 Beginner Very common

what

wot
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What (det) means used to ask for the identity or nature of something, from an open set of possibilities. Example: “What time does the train leave?”

det
1
Used to ask for the identity or nature of something, from an open set of possibilities.
"What time does the train leave?"
"What kind of music do you like?"
"What colour would you like for the bedroom walls?"
pron
1
The thing or things that.
"I told her what happened last night."
"Show me what you bought."
"I can't believe what he said to the waiter."
adv
1
Used to add emphasis, showing that something is remarkable in a good or bad way.
"What a terrible smell is coming from the fridge!"
"What a beautiful sunset!"
"What a mess this kitchen is."
intj
1
Used informally at the end of a statement to invite agreement, similar to "right?"
"That was rather a good film, you must agree, what?"
"You'll join us for dinner tonight, what?"
"It's freezing out there, what?"

How to use what

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe most basic question word in English, used to ask about identity, nature, or degree of something.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "what" (asking about a thing) with "which" (choosing from a known, limited set): "What do you want to eat?" vs "Which of these two do you want?"

Common pairings
what if so what what for guess what
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Word forms

Plural
whats
Test yourself on “what” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ time does the train leave?

Etymology

From Old English hwæt, going back to a Proto-Indo-European root for "who/what" — the ancestor of similar words like German was and Latin quod.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for what

hat that chat shat phat
See all rhymes for what →

Frequently asked questions

What does “what” mean?
The word “what” means used to ask for the identity or nature of something, from an open set of possibilities. In plain terms, the most basic question word in English, used to ask about identity, nature, or degree of something.
How do you pronounce “what”?
“What” is pronounced wot (/wɑt/ in IPA).
How do you use “what” in a sentence?
Here is “what” used in a sentence: “What time does the train leave?”
What part of speech is “what”?
Depending on how it is used, “what” can be a det, a pronoun, an adverb and an intj.
Where does the word “what” come from?
The word “what” comes from Latin. From Old English hwæt, going back to a Proto-Indo-European root for "who/what" — the ancestor of similar words like German was and Latin quod.
Is “what” a common word?
“What” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “what” have?
“What” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to ask for the identity or nature of something, from an open set of possibilities.
What is the difference between "what" and "which"?
Use "what" when the possibilities are open-ended ("What music do you like?") and "which" when choosing from a known, limited set ("Which of these songs do you like?"). The line is soft — "what" often works in both cases — but "which" signals that the options are already defined.
Can "what" mean "the thing that"?
Yes. As a pronoun, "what" introduces clauses meaning "the thing or things that": "What she said surprised me," "Take what you need." This construction is standard and common in both speech and writing.
Is "the book what I read" correct?
No. In standard English, relative clauses after a noun use "that" or "which," not "what": "the book that I read." Using "what" this way is a recognised feature of some regional dialects but is considered nonstandard in writing.

Example sentences

Real-world examples showing what in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.

What we see in Sampson's case is evidence of how society maligned women's labour as witchcraft and punished women for their feminine power.
From The Guardian · Jul 26, 2026

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