what
Translation
what
Examples
What is your name?
What is your name?
I don't know what to do.
I don't know what to do.
What time is it?
What time is it?
What a beautiful day!
What a beautiful day!
Grammar Patterns
((...)) to ask about something What is your name?
((+ noun)) to ask about a specific thing What time is it?
((...)) to refer to something unspecified I know what you mean.
((+ a/an + adj + noun)) to make an exclamation What a lovely day!
Similar Words
Synonyms: which, who, how
Etymology
From Old English 'hwæt', from a Proto-Indo-European interrogative stem.
Memory Tips
The most basic question word, one of the 'wh-' words used to ask for information.