what

Meanings

1. 1
   pron

   Used to ask for information about a thing or situation.

   What are you doing this weekend?

2. 2
   det

   Used before a noun to ask which thing or amount is meant.

   What colour are you going to paint the room?

3. 3
   pron

   The thing or things that.

   He always knows what he wants.

4. 4
   det

   Used to emphasise how remarkable something is.

   What a beautiful day it is!

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kʷ- Proto-Indo-European *kʷís Proto-Germanic *hwat Proto-West Germanic *hwat Old English hwæt Middle English what English what From Middle English what, from Old English hwæt (“what”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwat, from Proto-Germanic *hwat (“what”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷód (“what”), neuter form of *kʷós (“who”). Cognate with Scots what, whit (“what”), North Frisian wat (“what”), Saterland Frisian wat (“what”), West Frisian wat (“what”), Dutch wat (“what”), Low German wat (“what”), German was (“what”), Danish hvad (“what”), Norwegian Bokmål hva (“wh…

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images