what

From Wiktionary

Contents 1 Pronunciation 1.1 Homophones 2 Pronoun 3 Determiner

[change] Pronunciation

• (AUS) IPA: /wɔt/, SAMPA: /wOt/
• (UK) IPA: /ʍɒt/or /wɒt/, SAMPA: /WQt/
• (US) IPA: /wʌt/or /ʍʌt/, SAMPA: /wVt/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[change] Homophones

• watt (in accents with the wine-whine merger)
• wot (in accents with the wine-whine merger)

[change] Pronoun

Pronoun what

1. What is used to ask for information about things.

   What did you see?

   What do you mean?

2. What is used to add a clause with more information.

   I don't know what you mean.

   I'll tell you what to do.

   I'll see what I can do to help.

3. (relative) What is used when you want to describe something instead of naming it.

   Take what you can find.

   Can I see what you did?

   I could change it if that's what you want.

[change] Determiner

Determiner what

1. What is used to ask for information.

   What book did you buy?

2. (relative) What is used to add a clause with more information.

   I don't know what problems you mean.

   I'll tell you what button to push.

   I'll see what food I can give.

3. (exclamation) used to show that you feel strongly about something.

   What a great book this is!