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pron A1 Beginner Very common

who

hoo
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Who (pron) means used to ask about the identity of a person or people. Example: “Who left the door open?”

pron
1
Used to ask about the identity of a person or people.
"Who left the door open?"
"Who is coming to the party tonight?"
"Who do you think will win the quiz tonight?"
2
Used to introduce a clause that gives more information about a person already mentioned.
"The woman who called earlier left her number."
"The neighbours who live upstairs play the piano every evening."
"I met a teacher who had taught my mother years ago."

How to use who

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA question word or connector used to ask about, or refer back to, a specific person.

Common mistake

Use "who" for the subject of a clause ("who called?") and "whom" for the object ("to whom did you speak?") — though "who" is now standard in most everyday speech even where "whom" would be strictly correct.

Easily confused with
whom →
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Word forms

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ left the door open?

Etymology

From Old English hwā, part of the same ancient family of question-words as what, when, and where, going back to a shared Proto-Indo-European root.

Origin: Old English

Frequently asked questions

What does “who” mean?
The word “who” means used to ask about the identity of a person or people. In plain terms, a question word or connector used to ask about, or refer back to, a specific person.
How do you pronounce “who”?
“Who” is pronounced hoo ([hu(ː)] in IPA).
How do you use “who” in a sentence?
Here is “who” used in a sentence: “Who left the door open?”
What part of speech is “who”?
“Who” is a pronoun.
Where does the word “who” come from?
The word “who” comes from Old English. From Old English hwā, part of the same ancient family of question-words as what, when, and where, going back to a shared Proto-Indo-European root.
Is “who” a common word?
“Who” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “who” have?
“Who” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to ask about the identity of a person or people.
What is the difference between "who" and "whom"?
"Who" is the subject form ("Who called?") and "whom" is the object form ("Whom did you call?"). A quick test: if the answer would be "he," use "who"; if it would be "him," use "whom." In everyday English "who" now commonly does both jobs, with "whom" surviving mainly in formal writing and after prepositions ("to whom").
What is the difference between "who's" and "whose"?
"Who's" is a contraction of "who is" or "who has" ("Who's coming?"), while "whose" shows possession ("Whose coat is this?"). If you can expand the word to "who is," the spelling you need is "who's".
Can "who" be used for animals or things?
"Who" is used for people, and often for animals regarded as individuals, such as named pets ("our dog, who loves the beach"). For objects and organisations, standard English uses "which" or "that" instead.
Is it "the person who" or "the person that"?
Both are grammatically acceptable — "that" has long been used for people. Many style guides nevertheless prefer "who" for people because it sounds more natural and personal: "the person who called".

Example sentences

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

The Seattle Police Department is searching for two men who climbed over the glass wall of the city's iconic Space Needle on Friday, flipped over the edge and parachuted down from the 605-foot structure.
From ABC News · Jul 25, 2026

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