what

Pronunciation

• (AUS) IPA: /wɔt/, SAMPA: /wOt/
• (UK) IPA: /ʍɒt/ or /wɒt/, SAMPA: /WQt/
• (US) IPA: /wʌt/ or /ʍʌt/, SAMPA: /wVt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Homophones

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

Pronoun

Pronoun what

1. (question) What is used to ask for information about things.

   What did you see?

   What do you mean?

2. (relative) 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.

Determinative

Determiner what

1. (question) What is used to ask about the member(s) of a group.

   What book did you buy?

2. (relative) What is used to add a clause to identify the member(s) of a group.

   I don't know what problems you mean.

   I'll tell you what button to push.

   I'll see what food I can give.

Adjective

Positive what

Comparative none

Superlative none

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

   What a great book this is!