What Pronoun: Meaning, Usage, and Examples

Meaning 1：interrogative pronoun for things (what)

what 🔊

/wɒt/

pron.

Used to ask for information about a person, thing, or situation.

Child pointing at curious object in museum asking what

interrogative pronoun for things 🔊

➕

/ˌɪntəˈrɒɡətɪv ˈprəʊnaʊn fɔː θɪŋz/

pron.

Used to ask for information about a specific object, event, name, or situation when the answer is not known.

📁 Category：Language Evolution 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'hwæt', from Proto-Germanic *hwat, from PIE *kʷod (neuter of *kʷos 'who').

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'W' and 'H' as 'Who, What' — the two basic question letters. Imagine a W with a question mark attached.

📖 Example

I can't find that popular science book about dinosaurs in the library-what is it called again? 🔊 I can't find that popular science book about dinosaurs in the library—what is it called again?

🔗 Collocations

what if – used to ask about a possible future event or situation

what about – used to make a suggestion or ask for an opinion

what for – used to ask the reason or purpose of something

🔄 Synonyms

which (pron.) – used to ask for a choice between a limited set of options

whatever (pron.) – any thing or things; used to refer to something without specifying exactly

whatsoever (pron.) – used to emphasize a negative statement; any at all

🌱 Derivatives

whatever (pron.) – anything or everything; no matter what

whatsoever (adj.) – at all (used for emphasis)

whatnot (n.) – used to refer to any other similar items or things

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'what' comes from Old English 'hwæt', which is part of the Indo-European question word family (compare Latin 'quid', Greek 'ti'). It has been used for over 1,000 years to ask about identity or nature of things.