View source for what

==English==
{{wikipedia}}

===Etymology===
{{root|en|ine-pro|*kʷ-}}
From {{inh|en|enm|what}}, from {{inh|en|ang|hwæt||what}}, from {{inh|en|gmw-pro|*hwat}}, from {{inh|en|gem-pro|*hwat||what}}, from {{inh|en|ine-pro|*kʷód||what}}, neuter form of {{m|ine-pro|*kʷós||who}}. Cognate with {{cog|sco|whit||what}}, {{cog|frr|wat||what}}, {{cog|stq|wat||what}}, {{cog|fy|wat||what}}, {{cog|nl|wat||what}}, {{cog|nds|wat||what}}, {{cog|de|was||what}}, {{cog|da|hvad||what}}, {{cog|nb|hva||what}}, {{cog|sv|vad||what}}, {{cog|nn|kva||what}}, {{cog|is|hvað||what}}, {{cog|la|quod||what, which}}.

===Pronunciation===
* {{a|en|GA}}
** {{enPR|wŭt|a=wine-whine}}, {{IPA|en|/wʌt/|/wɑt/<a:sometimes also in <<GA>>>}}
*** {{audio|en|en-us-what.ogg|a=US,stressed,wine-whine}}
** {{enPR|hwŭt|a=non-wine-whine}}, {{IPA|en|/ʍʌt/}}
*** {{audio|en|en-ne-what.ogg|a=US,stressed,non-wine-whine}}
** {{IPA|en|[wʌɾ]|[wʌˀ]|q1=[[w:flapping|flapped]]|q2=glottalized|a=unstressed}}
*** {{audio|en|en-US what (flapped).ogg|a=US,unstressed,flapped,wine-whine}}
*** {{audio|en|en-US what (glottalized).ogg|a=US,unstressed,glottalized,wine-whine}}
* {{a|en|UK|NZ|NYC}}
** {{enPR|wŏt|a=wine-whine}}, {{IPA|en|/wɒt/ [wɒʔ(t)]<a:glottalized>}}
*** {{audio|en|En-uk-what.ogg|a=UK,wine-whine}}
*** {{audio|en|En-NYC-what.ogg|a=NYC,glottalized,wine-whine}}
** {{enPR|hwŏt|a=non-wine-whine}}, {{IPA|en|/ʍɒt/}}
* {{IPA|en|/wɔt/|a=AusE}}
* {{IPA|en|/wʌt/|a=CA}}
** {{IPA|en|/hɒt/|a=Dialectal}}
* {{enPR|wŏt|a=General South African}}, {{IPA|en|/wɑt/|/wɜt/}}
* {{IPA|en|/wʌt/|[wä(ː)t̚˨˩]|/ʍʌt/|q2=as a particle|q3=now rare|a=Singapore}}
* {{homophones|en|Watt|watt|wot|aa=all only in <<!British>>, <<!Australian>>, <<NZ>>, <<NYC>> accents with the <<wine-whine>>}}
* {{rhymes|en|ɒt|ʌt|s=1}}

===Determiner===
{{en-det}}

# {{lb|en|interrogative}} [[which|Which]], especially which of an open-ended set of possibilities.
#: {{ux|en|'''What''' colour are you going to use?}}
#: {{ux|en|'''What''' time is it?}}
#: {{ux|en|'''What''' kind of car is that?}}
# {{lb|en|indirect interrogative}} [[which|Which]].
#: {{ux|en|I wonder '''what''' colour he is going to use.}}
#: {{ux|en|I know '''what''' colour I am going to use.}}
#: {{ux|en|That depends on '''what''' answer is received.}}
# {{lb|en|relative}} [[any|Any]] ... that; [[all]] ... that; [[whatever]].
#: {{ux|en|He seems to have lost '''what''' sense he had.}}
#: {{ux|en|'''What''' money I earn is soon spent.}}
# {{n-g|Emphasises that something is [[noteworthy]] or [[remarkable]] in quality or degree, in either a good or bad way; may be used in combination with certain other determiners, especially 'a', less often 'some'.}}
#: ''This shows '''what''' beauty there is in nature.''
#: ''You know '''what''' nonsense she talks.''
#: ''I found out '''what''' a liar he is.''
## {{lb|en|[[exclamative marker|exclamative]]}} {{n-g|Used to form exclamations indicating that something is remarkable, in either a good or bad way.}}
##: {{syn|en|such}}
##: {{ux|en|'''What''' nonsense!}}
##: {{ux|en|Wow! '''What''' a speech.}}
##: {{ux|en|'''What''' beautiful children you have.}}
##: {{ux|en|With '''what''' passion she sings!}}
##* ''Little Red Riding Hood'', traditional folk tale
##*: “Oh Granny, '''what''' big eyes you have,” said Little Red Riding Hood.

====Usage notes====
In cases where both "what" and "which" are possible, with similar meaning, "what" is preferred for open-ended choices, while "which" is preferred for choices from a closed group or set. For example, "Which one of these do you want?" not "What one of these do you want?".

{{senseid|en|exclamative|tag=p}}As used to begin an exclamation, {{m-self|en|what}} and {{m|en|such}} are largely interchangeable, with a few exceptions:
* Nouns modified by ''such'' need not appear at the beginning of the sentence: ''She sings with such passion.''
* ''such'' requires that the noun phrase it modifies be [[gradable]] in some way. ''Such a disaster!'' is acceptable because a [[disaster]] may be minor or major in degree, but ''Such a movie!'' is not (except with the unusual meaning that the movie under discussion has especially "[[movie]]-like" qualities).
{{m|en|how}} is another word used at the beginning of a sentence to form an exclamation (''How quickly he ran!''), but it modifies different syntactic elements (verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and certain [[determinative]]s).

====Translations====
{{trans-top|interrogative}}
* Chinese: {{t+|zh|什麼}}, {{t+|zh|啥}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|mikä}}, {{t+|fi|mitä}} {{q|e.g. in what colour}}
* French: {{t+|fr|quoi}} 
* Galician: {{t+|gl|cal}}
* German: {{t+|de|was}}
* Hindi: {{t+|hi|क्या|tr=kyā}}
* Norwegian:
*: Bokmål: {{t+|nb|hva}}, {{t+|nb|hvilken}}, {{t+|nb|hvilket}}, {{t|nb|hva for en}}, {{t|nb|hva for et}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|vilken}}, {{t|sv|vad för}}, {{t|sv|vad för sorts}}
* Tagalog: {{t+|tl|ano}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|indirect interrogative}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|mikä}}
* Norwegian:
*: Bokmål: {{t+|nb|hvilken}}, {{t+|nb|hvilket}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|vilken}}, {{t|sv|vad för}}, {{t|sv|vad för sorts}}
* Tagalog: {{t+|tl|ano}}, {{t+|tl|alin}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|relative}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|mikä}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|den}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|emphasis}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|millainen}}, {{t+|fi|mikä}}, {{t+|fi|mitä}}
* German: {{t+|de|welch}}, {{t+|de|was für}}
* Norwegian:
*: Bokmål: {{t+|nb|hvilken}}, {{t+|nb|hvilket}}, {{t|nb|hva for en}}, {{t|nb|hva for et}}, {{t|nb|hva for}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|vilken}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|beginning an exclamation}}
* Armenian: {{t+|hy|ինչպիսի}}
* Asturian: {{t+|ast|qué}}
* Bashkir: {{t|ba|ниндәй}}, {{t|ba|ҡалай}}, {{t|ba|ҡайһылай}}
* Catalan: {{t+|ca|que}}
* Czech: {{t+|cs|jaký}}
* Danish: {{t+|da|hvilken|c}}, {{t+|da|hvilket|n}}, {{t+|da|hvilke|c-p|n-p}}, {{t|da|sikke}}
* Dutch: {{t+|nl|wat}}, {{t+|nl|welk}} {{qualifier|archaic}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|kuinka}}, {{t+|fi|mikä}}, {{t+|fi|millainen}}, {{t+|fi|mitä}} {{qualifier|e.g. mitä roskaa!}}
* French: {{t+|fr|quel|m}}, {{t+|fr|quelle|f}} {{q|without an indefinite article}}
* German: {{t+|de|was für}}, {{t+|de|so}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|τι}}
*: Ancient: {{t|grc|ἡλίκος}} {{q|adjective}}, {{t|grc|οἷος}} {{qualifier|adjective}}
* Hebrew: {{t+|he|איזה|m|tr=éize}}
* Hiligaynon: {{t|hil|ano}}
* Hindi: {{t+|hi|क्या}}
* Hungarian: {{t+|hu|micsoda}}, {{t+|hu|milyen}}, {{t+|hu|de}}, {{t+|hu|mekkora}}
* Interlingua: {{t|ia|qual}}
* Italian: {{t+|it|quanto}}, {{t+|it|che}}
* Japanese: {{t|ja|何と|tr=nanto}}
* Persian: {{t+|fa|چه|tr=če}}
* Polish: {{t|pl|[[co]] [[za]]}}, {{t+|pl|jaki|m}} {{q|after a preposition}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|que}}, {{t+|pt|quanto}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|како́й|m}}, {{t+|ru|кака́я|f}}, {{t+|ru|како́е|n}}, {{t+|ru|что за}}
* Slovak: {{t|sk|aký}}
* Slovene: {{t+|sl|kakó}}, {{t|sl|kákšen}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|menudo}}, {{t+|es|qué}}, {{t+|es|vaya}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|vad}}, {{t+|sv|så}} {{q|uncountable}}, {{t+|sv|sådan}} {{q|countable}}, {{t+|sv|vilken}}, {{t+|sv|sicken}} {{qualifier|informally}}
* Tagalog: {{t+|tl|ano}}
* Zazaki: {{t+|zza|çı}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{checktrans-top}}
* Esperanto: {{t+check|eo|kiu}}
* Estonian: {{t-check|et|milline}}
* Hindi: {{t-check|hi|क्यूं|sc=Deva}}, {{t+check|hi|क्यों}}
* Norwegian: {{t+check|no|hvilken}}
* Romanian: {{t+check|ro|ce}}
* Telugu: {{t+check|te|ఏ|sc=Telu}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{checktrans-top}} <!-- was "which", but determiner "what" can be used in the sense of "which" both interrogatively and relatively, and it is not clear which sense(s) these translations apply to -->
* Aramaic:
*: Hebrew: {{t|arc|מא|tr=maʾ}}
* Armenian: {{t+|hy|ինչ}}, {{t+|hy|որ}}
* Burmese: {{t+|my|ဘာ|sc=Mymr}}
* Cherokee: {{t|chr|ᎦᏙ ᎤᏍᏗ}}
* Chinese:
*: Cantonese: {{t|yue|邊|tr=bin1}}
*: Mandarin: {{t+|cmn|哪|tr=nǎ}}
*: Hokkien: {{t+|nan-hbl|佗|tr=tó, tá}}
* Chuukese: {{t|chk|met}}
* Czech: {{t+|cs|jaký}}
* Dutch: {{t+|nl|welk}}, {{t+|nl|wat voor}}
* Estonian: {{t+|et|mis}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|mikä}}
* French: {{t+|fr|quel|m}}, {{t+|fr|quelle|f}}, {{t+|fr|quels|m-p}}, {{t+|fr|quelles|f-p}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|ποιος}}
*: Ancient: {{t|grc|τί|n}}, {{t|grc|τίς|m|f}}, {{t|grc|ποῖος}} {{qualifier|adjective}}
* Haitian Creole: {{t|ht|ki}}
* Hebrew: {{t+|he|איזה|tr='éyze|sc=Hebr}}
* Hungarian: {{t+|hu|milyen}}, {{t+|hu|melyik}}
* Icelandic: {{t+|is|hvaða}}
* Italian: {{t+|it|che}}
* Kapampangan : {{t|pam|sánu}}
* Latin: {{t+|la|qui|m}}, {{t+|la|quae|f}}, {{t+|la|quod|n}}
* Norwegian:
*: Bokmål: {{t+|nb|hvilken}}
* Polish: {{t+|pl|który|m}}, {{t|pl|która|f}}, {{t|pl|które|n}} (which of certain choices), {{t+|pl|jaki|m}}, {{t+|pl|jaka|f}}, {{t|pl|jakie|n}} (which kind of)
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|que}}, {{t+|pt|qual}}
* Romanian: {{t+|ro|ce}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|кото́рый|m}}, {{t+|ru|кото́рая|f}}, {{t+|ru|кото́рое|n}}, {{t+|ru|како́й|m}}, {{t+|ru|кака́я|f}}, {{t+|ru|како́е|n}}
* Scots: {{t|sco|whit}}
* Scottish Gaelic: {{t|gd|dè}} ''(+definite article)''
* Slovak: {{t|sk|aký}}, {{t+|sk|ktorý|m}}
* Slovene: {{t|sl|kákšen}}, {{t+|sl|koliko|alt=kóliko (úra)}}
* Sorbian:
*: Lower Sorbian: {{t|dsb|kaki}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|qué}}, {{t+|es|cuál}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|vilken}} (''which of, which kind of''), {{t|sv|vad för}} (''which kind of'')
* Tagalog: {{t+|tl|alin}}, {{t+|tl|ano}}
{{trans-bottom}}

===Pronoun===
{{en-pron}}

# {{lb|en|interrogative}} Which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: {{n-g|used in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.}}
#: '''''What''' is your name?''
#: ''Ask them '''what''' they want.''
#* '''2016''', [https://web.archive.org/web/20171014193917/https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-6-where-is-the-gym/3225958.html VOA Learning English] (public domain)
#*: The gym is across from … '''what'''? &mdash; The gym is across from the lounge. &mdash; Across from the lounge. Right. Thanks!
#*:: {{audio|en|The gym is across from … what.ogg|a=US}}
# {{lb|en|fused relative}} That which; those that; the thing(s) that.
#: {{ux|en|He knows '''what''' he wants.}}
#: {{ux|en|'''What''' is amazing is his boundless energy.}}
#: {{ux|en|And, '''what''''s even worse, I have to work on Sunday too.}}
# {{lb|en|fused relative}} [[anything|Anything]] that; [[all]] that; [[whatever]].
#: {{ux|en|I will do '''what''' I can to help you.}}
#: {{ux|en|'''What''' is mine is yours.}}
# {{lb|en|relative|nonstandard}} [[that|That]]; [[which]]; [[who]].
#: ''&apos;Ere! There's that bloke '''what''' I saw earlier!''
#* {{quote-text|en|year=1902|author=w:J. M. Barrie|title=w:The Admirable Crichton
|passage=That’s her; that’s the thing '''what''' has stole his heart from me.}}
#* {{quote-text|en|year=2017|title=w:Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
|passage=For, it is a name '''what''' strikes fear in the heart of anyone '''what''' hears it.}}

====Translations====
{{trans-top|what? (interrogative pronoun)}}
{{multitrans|data=
* Acehnese: {{t|ace|peuë}}
* Adyghe: {{t|ady|сыд}}
* Afrikaans: {{tt+|af|wat}}
* Aklanon: {{t|akl|ano}}
* Albanian: {{tt+|sq|çfarë}}, {{tt|sq|ç'}}
* American Sign Language: {{tt|ase|Claw5@SideTrunkhigh-PalmUp-Claw5@SideTrunkhigh-PalmUp Sidetoside-Sidetoside}}
* Arabic: {{tt+|ar|مَاذَا}}, {{tt+|ar|مَا}}
*: Chadian Arabic: {{t|shu|شنو|tr=šunu}}
*: Egyptian Arabic: {{tt|arz|ايه|tr=ēh}}
*: Gulf Arabic: {{tt|apc|شُو|tr=šū}}, {{tt|afb|شنو|tr=šinu}}
*: Hijazi Arabic: {{tt|acw|إيش|tr=ʔēš}}
*: Iraqi Arabic: {{tt|acm|شنو|tr=šunu}}
*: Levantine Arabic: {{tt|apc|شُو|tr=šū}}, {{tt|ajp|أيش|tr=ʔēš}}
*: Moroccan Arabic: {{tt|ary|أشنو|tr=ʔašnu}}, {{tt|ary|شنو|tr=šnu}}, {{tt|ary|شني|tr=šni}}, {{tt|ary|شني|tr=šanni}}, {{tt|ary|آش|tr=ʔāš}}, {{tt|ary|أش|tr=ʔaš}}, {{tt|ary|ش|tr=š-}}
*: Najdi Arabic: {{tt|ars|وش|tr=weš}}, {{tt|ars|إِيش|tr=ʔēš}}
*: Sudanese Arabic: {{t|apd|شنو|tr=šinu}}
* Armenian: {{tt+|hy|ինչ}}
* Aromanian: {{tt|rup|tsi}}
* Assamese: {{tt|as|কি}}
* Asturian: {{tt+|ast|qué}}
* Azerbaijani: {{tt+|az|nə}}
* Bakhtiari: {{tt|bqi|چی|tr=čē}}, {{tt|bqi|چه|tr=čē}}
* Balinese: {{tt|ban|apa}}
* Bashkir: {{tt|ba|ни}}, {{tt|ba|нимә}}
* Basque: {{tt|eu|zer}}
* Belarusian: {{tt+|be|што}}
* Bengali: {{tt+|bn|কী}}
* Bhojpuri: {{t|bho|का}}
* Bikol Central: {{tt+|bcl|ano}}
* Brahui: {{tt|brh|anth}}
* Breton: {{tt+|br|petra}}
* Buginese: {{t|bug|aga}}
* Bulgarian: {{tt|bg|какво́}}, {{tt+|bg|що}}
* Burmese: {{tt+|my|ဘာ}}
* Butuanon: {{tt|btw|ngan}}
* Carpathian Rusyn: {{tt|rue|што}}
* Catalan: {{tt+|ca|què}}
* Cebuano: {{tt|ceb|unsa}}
* Central Atlas Tamazight: {{t|tzm|ⵎⴰⵢ}}
* Chechen: {{t|ce|хӏун}}
* Chichewa: {{tt|ny|chiyani}}
* Chickasaw: {{tt|cic|nanta}}
* Chinese:
*: Cantonese: {{tt+|yue|乜嘢|tr=mat1 je5}}, {{tt+|yue|咩|tr=me1}}, {{tt+|yue|乜|tr=mat1}}
*: Dungan: {{tt|dng|са}}
*: Eastern Min: {{tt|cdo|什乇|tr=sié-nó̤h, siéh-nó̤h}}
*: Gan: {{tt|gan|什哩|tr=siit6 'li4, xit6 'li4, siit6 li, xit6 li}}
*: Hakka: {{tt|hak|麼個|tr=má-ke, mak-ke}}
*: Hokkien: {{tt+|nan-hbl|啥|tr=siáⁿ, sáⁿ, siahⁿ, sahⁿ}}, {{tt+|nan-hbl|啥物|tr=siáⁿ-mih, siáⁿ-mi̍h, siáⁿ-mí}}, {{tt+|nan-hbl|啥貨|tr=siáⁿ-hòe, siáⁿ-hè, sáⁿ-hòe, sáⁿ-hè, sáⁿ-hèr}}, {{tt|nan-hbl|物代|tr=mih-tāi, bìn-tāi}} {{qualifier|Kinmen, Magong}}
*: Jin: {{tt|cjy|甚|tr=seng3}}
*: Mandarin: {{tt+|cmn|什麼|tr=shénme}}, {{tt+|cmn|啥|tr=shá}} {{qualifier|Northern dialect}}, {{tt+|cmn|何|tr=hé}}
*: Wu: {{tt|wuu|啥}}
*: Xiang: {{tt|hsn|麼子|tr=mo3 zr}}
* Chuvash: {{tt|cv|мӗн}}
* Classical Nahuatl: {{tt|nci|tleh}}, {{tt|nci|tlein}}, {{tt|nci|tleihqueh}} {{qualifier|plural}}
* Coptic: {{t|cop|ⲁϣ}}
* Czech: {{tt+|cs|co}}
* Dalmatian: {{tt|dlm|co}}
* Danish: {{tt+|da|hvad}}
* Dargwa: {{tt|dar|се}}
* Dutch: {{tt+|nl|wat}}
* Eastern Mari: {{tt|mhr|мо}}
* Esperanto: {{tt+|eo|kio}}
* Estonian: {{tt+|et|mis}}, {{tt+|et|mida}}
* Even: {{t|eve|як}}
* Evenki: {{t|evn|экун}}
* Faroese: {{tt+|fo|hvat}}
* Finnish: {{tt+|fi|mikä}}, {{tt+|fi|mitä}}
* French: {{tt+|fr|quoi}}, {{tt+|fr|que}}, {{tt+|fr|qu'est-ce que}}, {{tt+|fr|qu'est-ce qui}}, {{tt+|fr|quel|m}}
* Friulian: {{tt|fur|ce}}
* Galician: {{tt+|gl|que}}
* Gamilaraay: {{tt|kld|minya}}
* Georgian: {{tt+|ka|რა}}
* German: {{tt+|de|was}}
*: Alemannic German: {{tt|gsw|waas}}
* Gothic: {{tt|got|𐍈𐌰}}
* Greek: {{tt+|el|τί}}, {{tt+|el|ίντα}} {{qualifier|Aegean and Cypriot dialects}}
*: Ancient Greek: {{tt|grc|τί|n}}
* Gujarati: {{t|gu|શું}}
* Hawaiian: {{tt|haw|aha}}
* Hebrew: {{tt+|he|מה|tr=ma}}
* Hiligaynon: {{tt|hil|ano}}
* Hindi: {{tt+|hi|क्या}}, {{tt+|hi|का}}
* Hungarian: {{tt+|hu|mi}}, {{tt+|hu|mit}}
* Hunsrik: {{tt|hrx|was}}
* Ibanag: {{tt|ibg|anni}}
* Icelandic: {{tt+|is|hvað}}
* Ido: {{tt+|io|quo}}, {{tt|io|quon}}
* Igala: {{t|igl|ẹ́ñwu}}
* Igbo: {{t|ig|gịnị̄}}
* Ilocano: {{tt|ilo|ania}}
* Indonesian: {{tt+|id|apa}}, {{tt+|id|mana}}
* Ingrian: {{t|izh|mikä}}
* Ingush: {{t|inh|фу}}
* Interlingua: {{tt|ia|qual}}
* Irish: {{tt|ga|cad}}, {{tt|ga|céard}}
*: Old Irish: {{tt|sga|cid}}
* Isan: {{t|tts|อิหยัง|tr=ì-yǎng}}
* Isnag: {{t|isd|naxan}}
* Italian: {{tt|it|che cosa}}, {{tt+|it|che}}, {{tt+|it|cosa}}
* Japanese: {{tt+|ja|何|tr=[[なに]], nani}} {{q|when used alone}}, {{tt+|ja|なん|tr=nan}} {{q|when used with another word}}
* Javanese: {{t+|jv|apa}}
* Jeju: {{t|jje|무신거}}
* Jingpho: {{tt|kac|hpa}}
* K'iche': {{tt|quc|jas}}
* Kabardian: {{t+|kbd|сыт}}
* Kalmyk: {{tt|xal|ю}}
* Kannada: {{tt+|kn|ಏನು}}
* Kapampangan: {{tt|pam|nanu}} {{q|when used alone}}, {{tt|pam|nan/nang}} {{q|when used with another word}}
* Karakhanid: {{tt|xqa|نا|tr=nē}}
* Karelian: {{tt|krl|mis}}
* Kashubian: {{tt|csb|co}}
* Kazakh: {{tt+|kk|не}}
* Khmer: {{tt|km|អី}}, {{tt+|km|អ្វី}}, {{tt+|km|ស្អី}}
* Kikuyu: {{tt|ki|atĩa}}
* Korean: {{tt+|ko|무엇}}, {{tt+|ko|뭐}}
* Krio: {{tt|kri|wetin}}
* Kriol: {{tt|rop|wot}}, {{tt|rop|wani}}, {{tt|rop|wanim}}
* Kurdish:
*: Central Kurdish: {{tt|ckb|چی}}
*: Northern Kurdish: {{tt+|kmr|çi}}
* Kyrgyz: {{tt+|ky|эмне}}, {{tt+|ky|не}}
* Laboya: {{tt|lmy|aha}}
* Lao: {{tt+|lo|ຫຍັງ}}
* Latin: {{tt+|la|quid}}
* Latvian: {{tt+|lv|kas}} {{qualifier|who and what}}
* Lezgi: {{t|lez|вуч}}
* Limburgish: {{tt+|li|wat}}
* Lithuanian: {{tt+|lt|kas}} {{qualifier|who and what}}
* Livonian: {{tt|liv|mis}}
* Lombard: {{t+|lmo|che}}
* Low German:
*: German Low German: {{tt+|nds-de|wat}}
* Macedonian: {{tt|mk|што}}, {{tt|mk|какво}}
* Makasar: {{t|mak|apa}}
* Malay:
*: Jawi: {{tt|ms|اڤ}}
*: Rumi: {{tt+|ms|apa}}
* Malayalam: {{tt+|ml|എന്ത്}}, {{tt+|ml|എന്തൊരു}}
* Maltese: {{tt|mt|xiex}}, {{tt|mt|x'}}
* Manchu: {{t|mnc|ᠶᠠ}}, {{t|mnc|ᠠᡳ}}
* Mansi: {{t|ms|ма̄ныр}}
* Manx: {{tt|gv|cre}}
* Maore Comorian: {{tt|swb|trini}}
* Maori: {{tt+|mi|aha}}, {{tt+|mi|aha}} {{qualifier|for an object}}, {{tt+|mi|wai}} {{qualifier|for a person}}, {{tt|mi|hea}} {{qualifier|for a place}}
* Maranao: {{tt|mrw|ngin}}
* Marathi: {{tt+|mr|काय}}
* Middle Korean: {{t|okm|므슴〮}}, {{t|okm|므스〮}}
* Moksha: {{tt|mdf|мезе}}
* Mongolian:
*: Cyrillic: {{tt+|mn|юу}}, {{tt+|mn|уу}}
* Mwani: {{tt|wmw|kinani}}
* Nanai: {{t|gld|хай}}
* Navajo: {{tt|nv|haʼátʼíísh}}, {{tt|nv|daa}}
* Neapolitan: {{tt|nap|quale}}, {{tt|nap|che cosa}}
* Nepali: {{t+|ne|के}}
* Ngarrindjeri: {{tt|nay|minye}}
* Ngazidja Comorian: {{tt|zdj|hindri}}
* Nigerian Pidgin: {{t|pcm|wetin}}
* Northern Ohlone: {{tt|cst|hinṭo}}
* Northern Thai: {{t-needed|nod}}
* Norwegian:
*: Bokmål: {{tt+|nb|hva}}
*: Nynorsk: {{tt+|nn|kva}}
* Occitan: {{tt+|oc|qué}}
* Odia: {{tt+|or|କଣ}}
* Old Church Slavonic:
*: Cyrillic: {{tt|cu|чьто}}
*: Glagolitic: {{tt|cu|ⱍⱐⱅⱁ}}
* Old Dutch: {{tt|odt|wat}}
* Old East Slavic: {{tt|orv|чьто}}
* Old English: {{tt|ang|hwæt}}
* Old Frisian: {{tt|ofs|hwet}}
* Old Saxon: {{tt|osx|hwat}}
* Old Turkic: {{tt|otk|𐰤𐰀|ts=ne}}
* Oromo: {{t+|om|maal}}
* Ossetian: {{t|os|цы}}
* Ottoman Turkish: {{tt|ota|نه|tr=ne}}
* Pangasinan: {{tt|pag|anto}}
* Pannonian Rusyn: {{t|rsk|што}}
* Papiamentu: {{t|pap|ki}}
* Pashto: {{tt+|ps|څه|tr=cə}}
* Pela: {{t|bxd|pɛ̠⁵⁵}}, {{t|bxd|pɛ̠⁵⁵ tʃuŋ⁵¹}}
* Persian:
*: Iranian Persian: {{tt+|fa-ira|چِه}}, {{tt+|fa-ira|چی}}
* Pipil: {{tt|ppl|tay}}
* Polabian: {{t|pox|cü}}
* Polish: {{tt+|pl|co}}
* Portuguese: {{tt|pt|o que}}
* Punic: {{t|xpu|𐤌}}
* Punjabi: {{t|pa|ਕੀ}}
* Rapa Nui: {{tt|rap|aha}}
* Romanian: {{tt+|ro|ce}}
* Russian: {{tt+|ru|что}}
* Sanskrit: {{t+|sa|किम्}}
* Scots: {{tt|sco|whit}}
* Scottish Gaelic: {{tt|gd|dè}}
* Serbo-Croatian:
*: Cyrillic: {{qualifier|Štokavian}} {{tt|sh|што̏}}, {{tt|sh|шта̏}}, {{qualifier|Kajkavian}} {{tt|sh|кај}}, {{qualifier|Chakavian}} {{tt|sh|ча}}
*: Roman: {{qualifier|Štokavian}} {{tt+|sh|štȍ}}, {{tt|sh|štȁ}}, {{qualifier|Kajkavian}} {{tt|sh|kaj}}, {{qualifier|Chakavian}} {{tt+|sh|ča}}
* Shan: {{t-needed|shn}}
* Shor: {{tt|cjs|ноо|tr=noo}}
* Sicilian: {{tt+|scn|chi}}
* Sidamo: {{t|sid|ma}}
* Sindhi: {{t|sd|ڇا}}
* Sinhalese: {{tt|si|මොකක්ද}}
* Slovak: {{tt+|sk|čo}}
* Slovene: {{tt+|sl|káj}}
* Somali: {{t|so|maxa}}
* Sorbian:
*: Lower Sorbian: {{tt|dsb|co}}
*: Upper Sorbian: {{tt+|hsb|što}}
* Southern Altai: {{t|alt|не}}, {{t|alt|неме}}
* Southern Thai: {{tt|sou|พรือ}}
* Spanish: {{tt+|es|qué}}, {{tt+|es|cuál}}
* Sundanese: {{tt+|su|naon}}
* Swahili: {{tt|sw|nini}}
* Swedish: {{tt+|sv|vad}}
* Sylheti: {{tt|syl|ꠇꠤꠔꠣ}}
* Tagalog: {{tt+|tl|ano}}
* Tajik: {{tt+|tg|чӣ}}
* Talysh: {{t|tly|çiç}}, {{qualifier|Asalemi}} {{tt|tly|چی|tr=ci}}, {{tt|tly|چیچی|tr=cici}}, {{tt|tly|چه|tr=cə}}
* Tamil: {{tt+|ta|என்ன}}, {{t+|ta|எது}}
* Taos: {{tt|twf|híli}}
* Tat: {{t|ttt|çü}}
* Tatar: {{tt|tt|ни}}
* Tausug: {{tt|tsg|unu}}
* Tedim Chin: {{t|ctd|bang}}
* Telugu: {{tt+|te|ఏమిటి}}
* Tetum: {{t|tet|sá}}
* Thai: {{tt+|th|อะไร}}, {{tt+|th|ยังไง}}
* Tibetan: {{tt|bo|ག་རེ}}
* Tumbuka: {{t|tum|njani}}
* Turkish: {{tt+|tr|ne}}
* Turkmen: {{tt|tk|näme}}
* Tuvan: {{tt|tyv|чүү}}
* Ugaritic: {{tt|uga|𐎎𐎅}}
* Ukrainian: {{tt+|uk|що}}
* Urdu: {{tt|ur|کْیا}}
* Uyghur: {{tt|ug|نېمە}}, {{tt|ug|نە}} {{qualifier|literally}}
* Uzbek: {{tt+|uz|nima}}
* Veps: {{tt|vep|mi}}
* Vietnamese: {{tt+|vi|gì}}, {{t+|vi|之}}
* Volapük: {{qualifier|nominative}} {{tt+|vo|kis}}, {{qualifier|accusative}} {{tt|vo|kisi}}
* Võro: {{tt|vro|miä}}
* Waray-Waray: {{tt|war|ano}}
* Welsh: {{tt+|cy|beth}}
* White Hmong: {{tt|mww|dab tsi}}
* Yagnobi: {{tt|yai|чо}}
* Yiddish: {{tt|yi|וואָס}}
* Yola: {{tt|yol|fade}}
* Yoruba: {{t|yo|kí ni}}
* Zazaki: {{tt+|zza|se}}, {{tt|zza|çıçi}}
* Zealandic: {{tt|zea|wat}}
* Zhuang: {{tt|za|caemjdoh}}, {{tt|za|gaiqmaz}}
* Zou: {{t|zom|bengnge}}
* Zulu: {{tt|zu|ni}}, {{tt|zu|ni|alt=-ni}}
* ǃKung: {{t|khi-kun|tsa-de}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|fused relative pronoun: that which; those that; the thing(s) that}}
* Arabic: {{tt+|ar|مَا}}
* Armenian: {{tt+|hy|ինչ}}
* Basque: {{t|eu|-n}}
* Bulgarian: {{tt|bg|какво́}}
* Czech: {{tt+|cs|co}}
* Dutch: {{tt+|nl|wat}}, {{tt+|nl|hetgeen}}
* Dzongkha: {{tt|dz|ཅི}}
* Esperanto: {{tt+|eo|ke}}, {{tt+|eo|kiu}}
* Estonian: {{tt+|et|mis|alt=mida}}
* Finnish: {{tt+|fi|mikä}}
* French: {{tt+|fr|ce que}}, {{tt+|fr|ce qui}}
* Galician: {{tt|gl|o que}}
* German: {{tt+|de|was}}
* Greek: {{tt+|el|τι}}, {{tt|el|αυτό που}}
* Haitian Creole: {{tt|ht|sa}}
* Hiligaynon: {{tt|hil|ano}}
* Hungarian: {{q|the fact/claim which}} ({{tt+|hu|hogy}}) {{tt+|hu|mi}}, ({{tt+|hu|hogy}}) {{tt+|hu|mit}} {{gloss|accusative}}, {{q|the thing which}} {{tt+|hu|ami}}, {{tt+|hu|amit}} {{gloss|accusative}}
* Hunsrik: {{tt|hrx|was}}
* Italian: {{tt|it|quello che}}, {{tt|it|ciò che}}, {{tt|it|quel che}}, {{tt+|it|cosa}}
* Japanese: {{tt+|ja|物|tr=mono}}, {{tt+|ja|の|tr=no}}, {{tt+|ja|こと|tr=koto}}
* Latin: {{tt+|la|quod|n}}
* Macedonian: {{tt|mk|што}}, {{tt|mk|тоа што}}
* Neapolitan: {{tt|nap|chello ca}}
* Norwegian:
*: Bokmål: {{t+|nb|hva}}
*: Nynorsk: {{t+|nn|kva}}
* Persian:
*: Iranian Persian: {{tt+|fa-ira|آنْچِه}}
* Polish: {{tt+|pl|co}}, {{tt|pl|to, co}}
* Portuguese: {{tt|pt|o que}}
* Rapa Nui: {{tt|rap|aha}}
* Romanian: {{tt+|ro|care}}
* Russian: {{tt+|ru|что}}, {{tt+|ru|то, что}}
* Scots: {{tt|sco|whit}}
* Scottish Gaelic: {{tt|gd|na}}
* Serbo-Croatian: {{tt+|sh|što}}, {{tt|sh|šta}}
* Slovak: {{tt+|sk|ktorý|m}}, {{tt+|sk|čo}}
* Slovene: {{tt+|sl|kàj}}
* Spanish: {{tt|es|lo que}}
* Swedish: {{tt+|sv|vad}}
* Tagalog: {{tt+|tl|ano}}
* Zazaki: {{tt|zza|çıçi}}
* Zealandic: {{tt|zea|wat-a}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|nonstandard relative pronoun}}
* Dutch: {{tt+|nl|dat}}, {{tt+|nl|wat}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|mikä}}
* French: {{t+|fr|que}}, {{t+|fr|qui}}
* German: {{tt+|de|der|m}}, {{tt+|de|die|f}}, {{tt+|de|das|n}}, {{tt+|de|was|n}}
* Greek: {{tt|el|ο οποίος}}, {{tt+|el|που}}
* Hebrew: {{qualifier|prefix}} {{tt+|he|ש|tr=she}}
* Hungarian: {{tt+|hu|mi}}, {{tt+|hu|ami}}, {{tt+|hu|mit}} {{gloss|accusative}}, {{tt+|hu|amit}} {{gloss|accusative}}
* Ingrian: {{t|izh|kumpa}}
* Latin: {{tt+|la|quod}}
* Malay: {{tt+|ms|benda}}, {{tt|ms|perkara}}
* Persian:
*: Iranian Persian: {{tt+|fa-ira|کِه}}
* Portuguese: {{tt+|pt|que}}
* Russian: {{tt+|ru|кото́рый}}, {{tt+|ru|что}}
* Slovene: {{tt+|sl|kàj}}, {{tt|sl|kàr}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|que}}
* Swedish: {{tt+|sv|som}}
* Ukrainian: {{tt+|uk|яки́й}}, {{tt+|uk|що}}
* West Frisian: {{tt|fy|dy't}}
* Zazaki: {{tt+|zza|se}}
}}<!-- close {{multitrans}} -->
{{trans-bottom}}

===Adverb===
{{en-adv|-}}

# {{lb|en|interrogative}} In what way; to what extent.
#: {{ux|en|'''What''' does it matter?}}
#: {{ux|en|'''What''' do you care?}}
# {{n-g|Used before a prepositional phrase to emphasise that something is taken into consideration as a cause or reason; usually used in combination with 'with' (see [[what with]]), and much less commonly with other prepositions.}}
#* {{quote-text|en|year=1787|author=Henry St. John; Lord Viscount Bolingbroke|title=Letters on the Study and Use of History: A Letter to Sir William Windham|pageurl=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ZtpkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA83&dq=%22what+by%22|page=83
|passage=In short; '''what''' by the indiscretion of people here, '''what''' by the rebound which came often back from London, '''what''' by the private interests and ambitious views of persons in the French court, and '''what''' by other causes unnecessary to be examined now, the most private transactions came to light [...]}}
#* '''1815''', Rev. Mr. Milne, letter reprinted in ''The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle, Volume 23'', page 82. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=EPE6AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA82&dq=%22what+from%22]
#*: The Chinese of all ranks, and in every place, received my books gladly, and listened with patience to what I had to say about the true God.—So that '''what''' from opportunities of attending to the object of my Mission among the Chinese—'''what''' from seasons of religious instruction to Dutch and English—'''what''' from intercourse with gentlemen of education and knowledge of the world—'''what''' from occasions of stating clearly the object of Missions, and of endeavouring to remove prejudices against them—and '''what''' from the view of a highly cultivated country, happy under an enlightened and liberal government, I have much reason to be satisfied with this journey [...]

====Translations====
{{trans-top|in what way}}
* Finnish: {{t|fi|[[mikä|mitä]]}}, {{t+|fi|miten}}
* German: {{t+|de|wie}}, {{t+|de|inwiefern}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{checktrans-top}} <!-- was "why", but this does not correspond to any English sense -->
* Hindi: {{t+|hi|क्यों}}
* Malay: {{t+|ms|kenapa}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|por que}}
* Zazaki: {{t|zza|seni}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{checktrans-top}}
* Estonian: {{t+check|et|kui}}, {{t-check|et|milline}}, {{t-check|et|selline}} <!--[[taoline]]-->
* Indonesian: {{t+check|id|apa}}
* Italian: {{t+check|it|che}}
* Spanish: {{t+check|es|qué}}
{{trans-bottom}}

===Interjection===
{{en-interj}}

# {{n-g|An expression of surprise or disbelief.}}
#* {{RQ:Shakespeare King Lear|text='''What''', have his daughters brought him to this pass?}}
#: '''''What'''! [[that's|That’s]] [[amazing]]!''
# What do you want? {{non-gloss|An abrupt, usually unfriendly enquiry as to what a person desires.}}
#: {{ux|en|'''What'''? I'm busy.}}
# {{lb|en|British|colloquial|dated}} {{clipping of|en|what do you say|nodot=a}}? {{n-g|Used as a type of [[tag question]] to emphasise a statement and invite agreement, often rhetorically.}}
#* {{quote-book|en|author=Denis Garstin|title=The Shilling Soldiers|year=1918|url=https://archive.org/stream/shillingsoldiers00gars|location=London|publisher=Hodder and Stoughton|page=83|pageurl=https://archive.org/stream/shillingsoldiers00gars/page/83/mode/1up|text=“That’s riled them,” said my compaion. “Good work, '''what'''?”}}
#* {{quote-text|en|date=May 12 1991|chapter=[[w:List of Jeeves and Wooster episodes|Kidnapped!]]|title=w:Jeeves and Wooster|section=Series 2, Episode 5
|passage=''Chuffy:'' WHAT? No, no, no, no, no. My casa is your casa, '''what'''?}}
#: {{ux|en|It’s a nice day, '''what'''?}}
# What did you say? [[I beg your pardon]]? {{non-gloss|This usage is often considered impolite, with the more polite "[[pardon|Pardon]]?" or "[[excuse me|Excuse me]]?" preferred.}}
#: {{ux|en|— Could I have some of those aarrrrrr mmmm ...<br>— '''What'''?}}
# {{n-g|Indicating a guess or approximation, or a pause to try to recall information.}}
#: {{ux|en|I must have been, '''what''', about five years old.}}

====Alternative forms====
* {{l|en|wha}}

====Synonyms====
* {{sense|colloquial British interjection}} {{l|en|what-what}}, {{l|en|wot}}
* {{sense|what did you say?}} {{l|en|come again}}, {{l|en|pardon}}; see also [[Thesaurus:say again]]

====Translations====
{{trans-top|expression of surprise}}
* Bulgarian: {{t|bg|какво!|sc=Cyrl}}
* Catalan: {{t+|ca|com}}, {{t+|ca|i ara}}
* Czech: {{t+|cs|cože?}}
* Dutch: {{t+|nl|wat!}}
* Estonian: {{t+|et|mida?}}, {{t+|et|mis?}}, {{t|et|misasja?}}, {{t+|et|kuidas?}}
* Finnish: {{qualifier|1}} {{t+|fi|mitä!}}
* French: {{t+|fr|quoi|alt=quoi{{NNBS}}!}}, {{t+|fr|comment|alt=comment{{NNBS}}!}}
* German: {{t+|de|was!}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|τι|sc=Grek}}
*: Ancient: {{t|grc|τί δὲ}}
* Hebrew: {{t+|he|מָה?|tr=ma?|sc=Hebr}}
* Hungarian: {{qualifier|1}} {{t+|hu|mi?}}, {{t+|hu|micsoda?}}
* Icelandic: {{t+|is|ha?}}
* Indonesian: {{t+|id|apa}}
* Italian: {{t+|it|cosa}}
* Japanese: {{t+|ja|何|tr=なに, nani}}
* Kapampangan: {{t|pam|nano}} {{t|pam|nanu}} {{t|pam|na}}
* Korean: {{t+|ko|어때?}}
* Malay: {{t+|ms|apa}}
* Manx: {{t|gv|yagh?}}
* Maori: {{t|mi|hā}}, {{t|mi|are}}
* Polish: {{t+|pl|co!}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|o quê?}}
* Romanian: {{t+|ro|ce|alt=ce!}}, {{t+|ro|cum|alt=cum!}}, {{t+|ro|poftim|alt=poftim!}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|как!}}, {{t+|ru|что!}}
* Slovak: {{t+|sk|čo}}
* Slovene: {{t+|sl|káj!}}, {{t+|sl|res|alt=a rés!}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|¡qué!}}, {{t+|es|¿no?}}, {{t+|es|¿cómo?}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|va!}}
* Tagalog: {{t+|tl|ano}}, {{t|tl|ha}}
* Turkish: {{t+|tr|ne}}
* Vietnamese: {{t+|vi|gì}}
* Welsh: {{t+|cy|beth}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|enquiry to what a person desires}}
* Finnish: {{t|fi|[[mikä|mitä]] [[nyt]]?}}
* Polish: {{t|pl|[[czego|czego?!]]}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|¿qué?}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|vad?}}, {{t|sv|vad är det?}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|come again}}
* German: {{t+|de|wie bitte}}, {{t|de|[[was]]?}}
* Scottish Gaelic: {{t|gd|dè}}, {{t|gd|dè rud}}, {{t|gd|duda}}, {{t|gd|diorta}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|va}}, {{t+|sv|ha}}, {{t+|sv|hur sa}}
{{trans-bottom}}

<!--Remove this table once all of the translations below have been moved into the tables above.-->
{{checktrans-top}}
* Chinese:
*: Mandarin: {{t+|cmn|什麼|tr=shénme}}
{{trans-bottom}}

===Noun===
{{en-noun|~}}

# {{lb|en|obsolete|uncountable}} [[something|Something]]; [[thing]]; [[stuff]].
#* {{RQ:Spenser Faerie Queene|book=VI|canto=IX|stanza=7|passage=They prayd him sit, and gave him for to feed / Such homely '''what''' as serves the simple clowne, / That doth despise the dainties of the towne{{...}}}}
# {{lb|en|countable}} The identity of a thing, as an answer to a question of ''what''.
#* {{quote-text|en|year=2005|author=Norman K. Denzin; Yvonna S. Lincoln|title=The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research|page=493
|passage=The emphasis on the interplay between the hows and '''whats''' of interpretive practice is paramount.}}
# {{lb|en|countable}} Something that is addressed by {{m|en||what}}, as opposed to a person, addressed by {{m|en|who}}.
#* '''2012''', "We Are Both", season 2, episode 2 of ''{{w|Once Upon a Time}}''
#*: Regina: What are you?
#*: Rumplestiltskin: What? What? What? My, my, what a rude question! I am not a '''what'''.

===Particle===
{{en-part}}

# {{lb|en|Manglish|Singlish}} {{n-g|Emphasizes the truth of an [[assertion]] made to [[contradict]] an evidently false assumption held by the listener.}}
#: {{ux|en|— [[sian|Sian]] [[sia]], nearby here don’t have library.<br/>— The National Library is a five-minute walk from here '''what''', no [[meh#Etymology 2|meh]]?}}
#* {{quote-book|en|author=L. C. Cheong|title=Youth in the Army|page=142|year=1978|text=Most things come from Europe '''what'''.}}
#* {{quote-newsgroup|en|author=yansimon52|newsgroup=soc.culture.singapore|year=2007|passage={{...}} they can't be the same '''what'''?}}

===Derived terms===
{{col-auto|en|title=from all parts of speech|what say you
|or what|as what|get what one asked for|gods may do what cattle may not|up what spring|what can you do|what does it matter|what it be|what the crap|what-do-you-call-it|what-you-call-it|what-you-may-call-it|write-what-where|hear what I'm saying|know what I'm saying|what a goodyear|what is the matter|what is your problem|what seems to be the problem|you hear what I'm saying
|so what
|wha| for what|see what sticks|what color is your Bugatti|what colour is your Bugatti|what the goodyear
|what for
|what ho|what do you make the time|what in time|what time|what time do you make it
|what if
|what is more
|whatness
|what's what
|[[what the Devil]], [[what the deuce|deuce]], [[what the dickens|dickens]], [[what the hell|hell]], [[what the heck|heck]], [[what the fuck|fuck]]
|[[what the doctor ordered]], [[just what the doctor ordered]]
|what with
|a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do|be careful what you wish for|be it what it would|come what may|dance with the one what brought ya|dance with the one what brought you|dance with the one what brung ya|dance with the one what brung you|do exactly what it says on the tin|do what|do you know what I'm saying|eat what you kill|for what it's worth|get out what one puts in|give someone what for|give someone what-for|give what for|guess what|hold come what may|I am what I am|I know you are but what am I|I see what you did there|if you know what I mean|if you see what I mean|in what world|it doesn't matter what they say about you as long as they spell your name right|it is what it is|it's not what you know but who you know|know what|know what is what|know what o'clock it is|know what one is about|know what one is doing|know what's what|leave with the one what brought ya|leave with the one what brought you|leave with the one what brung ya|leave with the one what brung you|look what the cat dragged in|look what the cat drug in|look what the cat's dragged in|much what|much-what|never put off until tomorrow what you can do today|no matter what|not know what hit one|now that's what I call|now what|one's got to do what one's got to do|one's gotta do what one's gotta do|pick up what someone is laying down|pick up what someone is putting down|practice what one preaches|practise what one preaches|reap what one sows|say what|say what you like|show what one is made of|smell what someone is stepping in|tell you what|that's what I call|that's what I'm talking about|that's what she said|the heart wants what it wants|the heart wants what the heart wants|the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing|them what has gets|throw things at the wall and see what sticks|to what do I owe the pleasure|to what end|what a lovely day|what a pity|what a shame|what a small world|what a way to go|what about|what about the children|what are friends for|what are the odds|what are you doing|what are you like|what are you looking at|what are you smoking|what are you waiting for|what can I do you for|what can I say|what cheer|what color is the sun in your world|what date is it today|what day is it today|what did your last slave die of|what do I know|what do you know|what do you mean|what do you want|what do you want: blood?|what does that have to do with the price of corn|what does that have to do with the price of fish|what does that have to do with the price of tea in China|what does … mean|what doesn't kill you makes you stronger|what else is new|what foot the shoe is on|what gives|what goes around comes around|what goes on|what goes up must come down|what good is|what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas|what happens on the road stays on the road|what happens on tour stays on tour|what has been seen cannot be unseen|what has someone done|what hath God wrought|what have you|what in tarnation|what in the world|what is her name|what is his name|what is it|what is that|what is the Wi-Fi password|what is this I don't even|what is up|what is what|what is your job|what is your name|what is your phone number|what it do|what it is|what it takes|what kind of|what kind of music do you like|what languages do you speak|what next|what not|what now|what number|what o'clock is it|what of|what of it|what one is made of|what say you|what should I do|what someone said|what someone says goes|what the|what the actual fuck|what the ef|what the eff|what the fudge|what the hay|what the hey|what the shit|what the what|what though|what time have you got|what time is it|what up|what was someone smoking|what was someone thinking|what was that|what was your first clue|what way the wind is blowing|what wins on Sunday sells on Monday|what would Jesus do|what would you like|what you don't know can't hurt you|what you gain on the swings you lose on the roundabouts|what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts|what you saying|what you see is what you get|what-d'ye-call-'em|what-d'ye-call-it|what-have-you|what-if|what-iffery|what-like|what-not|what-not shop|what-so-ever|what-you-see-is-what-you-get|who are you and what have you done with someone|you and what army|you are what you eat|you get what you pay for|you know what|you know what I mean|you know what I'm saying|you know what they say|you never know what you've got till it's gone|you only get what you give|you what|you-know-what}}

===See also===
{{col4|en|
|wha
|whuh
|woat
|wot
|wuh
|wut
}}
* {{qual|Singlish particles}}: {{l|en|ah#Etymology 2}}, {{l|en|hor#Etymology 2}}, {{l|en|know#Etymology 3}}, {{l|en|lah#Etymology 2}}, {{l|en|leh}}, {{l|en|liao#Particle}}, {{l|en|lor}}, {{l|en|mah#Etymology 2}}, {{l|en|meh#Etymology 2}}, {{l|en|one#Etymology 2}}, {{l|en|sia#Particle}}

===References===
* {{cite-book|year=2005|first=Ee Ling|last=Low|first2=Adam|last2=Brown|title=''English in Singapore: An Introduction''|isbn=0071239758}}
* {{cite-journal|year=2018|first=Tania|last=Kuteva|first2=Seongha|last2=Rhee|first3=Debra|last3=Ziegeler|first4=Jessica|last4=Sabban|title=On sentence-final “what” in Singlish: Are you the Queen of England, or what?|journal=Journal of Language Contact|url=https://brill.com/view/journals/jlc/11/1/article-p32_32.xml?language=en}}

===Anagrams===
* {{anagrams|en|a=ahtw|HAWT|Thaw|Wath|hawt|thaw|wath}}

{{cln|en|interrogative determiners|interrogative pronouns}}

==Chinese==

===Alternative forms===
* {{l|zh|What}}

===Etymology===
From clipping of {{der|yue|en|WhatsApp|'''What'''sApp}}.

===Pronunciation===
{{zh-pron
|c=wot1,wat1
|cat=v
}}

===Verb===
{{head|zh|verb}}

# {{lb|zh|Hong Kong Cantonese}} to [[WhatsApp]]; to send via WhatsApp

==Middle English==

===Etymology 1===
From {{inh|enm|ang|hwæt}}, from {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*hwat}}, from {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*hwat}}, from {{inh|enm|ine-pro|*kʷód}}.

====Alternative forms====
* {{alter|enm|whad|whote|watte|wath|wad|qhat}}
* {{alter|enm|whæt|whæht|waht|waet|wæht|weht|hweat||Southern West Mid}}

====Pronunciation====
* {{IPA|enm|/ʍat/|/wat/}}

====Pronoun====
{{head|enm|pronoun|cat2=interrogative pronouns}}

# [[#English|what]]

=====Descendants=====
* {{desc|en|what}}
* {{desc|sco|what|alts=1}}
* {{desc|yol|faade|alts=1}}

====Adverb====
{{head|enm|adverb}}

# [[why|Why]].
#* {{RQ:Chaucer Canterbury Tales|Summoner's Tale|passage='''What''' shulde I tel the answere of the knyght?|translation='''Why''' should I tell the answer of the knight?}}
#* {{RQ:Milton Of Reformation|passage=But '''what''' do I stand reckoning upon advantages and gains lost by the misrule and turbulency of the prelates?}}
# {{n-g|Used to introduce each of two coordinate phrases or concepts; both...and...}}
#* {{RQ:Mlry MrtDrthr|5.1|2|III|primum|passage=And as for on C good knyghtes I haue my self / but I fawte / l / for so many haue ben slayne in my dayes / and so Ladegreans delyuerd his doughter Gweneuer vnto Merlyn / and the table round with the C knyghtes / and so they rode fresshly with grete royalte / '''what''' by water and '''what''' by land / tyl that they came nyghe vnto london}}

=====Descendants=====
* {{desc|yol|fad}}

====References====
* {{R:MED Online|entry=what|pos=pron|id=MED52429}}
* {{R:MED Online|entry=what|pos=adv. & conj|id=MED52432}}

===Etymology 2===

====Noun====
{{head|enm|noun}}

# {{alt form|enm|whate}}

==Scots==

===Etymology 1===
{{etymid|sco|what}}
{{dercat|sco|gem-pro|ine-pro}}
From {{inh|sco|enm|what}}, from {{inh|sco|ang|hwæt}}, from {{inh|sco|gmw-pro|*hwat}}. Cognates include {{cog|en|what}} and {{cog|yol|faade}}.

====Alternative forms====
* {{alter|sco|whate|whit|whut|wha'|quhat|quat|fat|faht|phat|fit|fut|fout|at}}

====Pronunciation====
* {{IPA|sco|[ʍɑt]|[ʍo̞t]|[ʍɪt]|[ʍʌt]|[ʍɑʔ]}}<ref name=DSL1>{{R:DSL|what|pron., adv., conj., interj.,|url=https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/what_pron_adv_adj_conj_interj}}</ref>
* {{IPA|sco|[kwɑt]|a=Shetland}}<ref name=DSL1 />

====Pronoun====
{{head|sco|pronoun|cat2=interrogative pronouns|cat3=relative pronouns}}

# {{lb|sco|interrogative}} [[#English|what]]?
# {{lb|sco|relative}} [[that]], [[which]]

====Adverb====
{{head|sco|adverb|cat2=interrogative adverbs}}

# {{lb|sco|interrogative}} [[how]]?
# {{lb|sco|interrogative}} [[why]]?
# {{lb|sco|relative}} [[as]], [[than]], [[how]]
# {{lb|sco|exclamatory}} [[how]]!

====Determiner====
{{head|sco|determiner|cat2=relative determiners|cat3=interrogative determiners}}

# {{q|interrogative}} [[#English|what]]?
# {{q|relative}} [[#English|what]], [[which]]
# {{q|exclamatory}} [[#English|what]] a lot of! [[how]] many!

===Etymology 2===
{{etymid|sco|whet}}
{{dercat|sco|gem-pro}}
From {{inh|sco|enm|whetten}}, from {{inh|sco|ang|hwettan}}, from {{inh|sco|gmw-pro|*hwattjan}}. Cognates include {{cog|en|whet}}.

====Alternative forms====
* {{alter|sco|whatt}}

====Pronunciation====
* {{IPA|sco|[ʍɑt]}}<ref>{{R:DSL|what|v., n.|url=https://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/what_v_n}}</ref>

====Verb====
{{sco-verb}}

# {{lb|sco|transitive}} to [[whet]], [[hone]], [[sharpen]]

===References===
<references/>

==Yola==

===Etymology===
From {{inh|yol|enm|whetten}}, from {{inh|yol|ang|hwettan}}, from {{inh|yol|gmw-pro|*hwattjan}}.

===Pronunciation===
* {{IPA|yol|/wat/}}

===Verb===
{{head|yol|verb}}

# to [[whet]]
#* {{quote-book|yol|year=1867|chapter=ABOUT AN OLD SOW GOING TO BE KILLED|number=1|page=106|title=SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY|passage=A skudhelès, lhaung roosta, wull glaude leth aam '''what'''.|translation=The knives, that were long rusty, well-pleased let them '''whet'''.}}

===References===
* {{R:Poole 1867|page=78}}