# what

/ˈhwət/ (US) · /wˈɒt/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Pronoun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/what
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

the word you use to ask for information about a thing or an action. You use it when you do not know what something is or what is happening.

For teachers: an interrogative pronoun used to request specific information about an object, event, or situation. It functions as the subject, object, or complement in a clause.

## Examples

- What is your favorite color?
- The manager asked what the team needed to finish the project by Friday afternoon.
- In philosophical inquiry, the question of what constitutes a meaningful life often leads to a discussion of personal values versus societal expectations.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I don't know what is the time." but "I don't know what the time is." — In indirect questions or noun clauses, the subject must come before the verb.

## Usage notes

- Functions as an interrogative pronoun or a relative pronoun; when used as a relative pronoun, it often means 'the thing that'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.