whose
hooz
Whose (det) means belonging to which person; used to ask or show ownership. Example: “Whose coat is this on the chair?”
det
1
Belonging to which person; used to ask or show ownership.
"Whose coat is this on the chair?"
"The man whose car was stolen called the police."
"Whose turn is it to wash up tonight?"
pron
1
The one(s) belonging to whom.
"There are two bags here — whose are they?"
"I don't know whose this is."
"These muddy boots are not mine, so whose are they?"
How to use whose
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe possessive form of "who" — used to ask or say who something belongs to.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "who's" (short for "who is" or "who has"): "Whose bag is this?" vs "Who's coming tonight?"
Easily confused with
who's
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_____ coat is this on the chair?
Etymology
From Old English hwæs, the possessive form of who, going back to Proto-Germanic *hwaz.
Rhymes for whose
See all rhymes for whose →Frequently asked questions
What does “whose” mean?
The word “whose” means belonging to which person; used to ask or show ownership. In plain terms, the possessive form of "who" — used to ask or say who something belongs to.
How do you pronounce “whose”?
“Whose” is pronounced hooz (/huːz/ in IPA).
How do you use “whose” in a sentence?
Here is “whose” used in a sentence: “Whose coat is this on the chair?”
What part of speech is “whose”?
Depending on how it is used, “whose” can be a det and a pronoun.
Where does the word “whose” come from?
The word “whose” comes from Old English. From Old English hwæs, the possessive form of who, going back to Proto-Germanic *hwaz.
Is “whose” a common word?
“Whose” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “whose” have?
“Whose” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: belonging to which person; used to ask or show ownership.
What is the difference between 'whose' and 'who's'?
"Whose" shows possession and asks or tells which person something belongs to, as in "Whose bag is this?" "Who's" is a contraction of "who is" or "who has," as in "Who's coming?" A quick test: if you can replace the word with "who is," use "who's"; otherwise use "whose."
Can 'whose' be used for things, not just people?
Yes. Although "whose" often refers to people, it is perfectly correct to use it for objects, animals, and ideas to avoid the clumsy phrase "of which." For example, "a book whose cover is torn" is standard English. Many writers hesitate here, but this usage has long been accepted by grammarians.
How do you use 'whose' in a question?
Use "whose" at the start of a question to ask who owns or is connected to something, as in "Whose turn is it?" or "Whose car is parked outside?" It works as a determiner before a noun, or on its own when the noun is understood, such as "Whose is this?"
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