What's is the usual spoken form of 'what is' or 'what has', especially when 'has' is an auxiliary verb .
or what
In conversation , you say or what? after a question as a way of stating an opinion forcefully and showing that you expect other people to agree .
so what!
what importance does that have?
what-ho
an expression used as a greeting or to attract attention
what if
You say what if at the beginning of a question when you ask about the consequences of something happening , especially something undesirable .
what for
for what purpose? why?
what goes?
what's happening ?
what then?
what would happen in that case?
what with
You say what with in order to introduce the reasons for a particular situation, especially an undesirable one.
you what
People say ' you what? ' to indicate that they do not believe or accept the remark that someone has just made, or that they have not heard or understood it properly.
what's what
If you know what's what , you know the important things that need to be known about a situation .
guess what
You say guess what to draw attention to something exciting , surprising , or interesting that you are about to say.
what about
You use what about at the beginning of a question when you make a suggestion , offer , or request .
what matter
what does it matter?
what price
You use what price in front of a word or expression that refers to something happening when you want to ask how likely it is to happen . You usually do this to emphasize either that it is very likely or very unlikely .
what's up?
If you say to someone ' What's up? ' or if you tell them what's up , you are asking them or telling them what is wrong or what is worrying them.
what though
what difference does it make that
and what not
and other things of all sorts
I know what
I have an idea
what a lark!
how amusing !
what a life
People say ' What a life ' to indicate that they are unhappy or are having great difficulties .
what…do with
to put or place
what is more
You can use what is more or what's more to introduce an extra piece of information which supports or emphasizes the point you are making.
what's more
You can use what is more or what's more to introduce an extra piece of information which supports or emphasizes the point you are making.
what's yours?
what would you like to drink ?
know what's what
to know how one thing or things in general work
come what may
whatever happens
no matter what
If you say that you are going to do something no matter what , you are emphasizing that you are definitely going to do it, even if there are obstacles or difficulties.
tell you what
You say ' Tell you what ' to introduce a suggestion or offer .
what about/of
You use what about or what of when you introduce a new topic or a point which seems relevant to a previous remark .
what have you
You say what have you at the end of a list in order to refer generally to other things of the same kind.
what it takes
whatever is necessary for success or popularity, as wealth , beauty , or intelligence
what manner of
You use what manner of to suggest that the person or thing you are about to mention is of an unusual or unknown kind.
what's cooking?
what's happening ?
what the heck
You say ' what the heck ' to indicate that you do not care about a bad aspect of an action or situation .
what the hell
You can say ' what the hell ' when you decide to do something in spite of the doubts that you have about it.
what you will
whatever you like
who-does-what
(of a dispute , strike , etc) relating to the separation of kinds of work performed by different trade unions
you know what
a thing or person that the speaker cannot or does not want to specify
so what, what of it
You say so what? or what of it? to indicate that the previous remark seems unimportant , uninteresting , or irrelevant to you.
what do you know
People sometimes say ' What do you know ! ' when they are very surprised about something.
what do you want?
If you say to someone ' what do you want ? ', you are asking them in a rather rude or angry way why they have come to the place where you are or why they want to speak to you.
what possessed you?
If you ask what possessed someone to do something, you are emphasizing your great surprise that they have done something which you consider foolish or dangerous .
what's-her-name
a girl or woman whose name is unknown , temporarily forgotten , or deliberately overlooked
what's-his-name
a boy or man whose name is unknown , temporarily forgotten , or deliberately overlooked
what's the odds?
what difference does it make?
give
You can use give with nouns that refer to physical actions. The whole expression refers to the performing of the action. For example, She gave a smile means almost the same as 'She smiled'.
what does sb know
You can use expressions such as What does she know ? and What do they know? when you think that someone has no right to comment on a situation because they do not understand it.
what-d'ye-call-her
a girl or woman whose name is unknown , temporarily forgotten , or deliberately overlooked
what-d'ye-call-him
a boy or man whose name is unknown , temporarily forgotten , or deliberately overlooked
Chinese translation of 'what'
what
(wɔt)
pron
(interrogative subject, object, object of prep) 什么(麼) (shénme)
what is happening?发(發)生了什么(麼)事？ (fāshēngle shénme shì?)
what is it?那是什么(麼)？ (nà shì shénme?)
what are you doing?你在干(幹)什么(麼)？ (nǐ zài gàn shénme?)
what are you talking about?你在说(說)什么(麼)？ (nǐ zài shuō shénme?)
what?什么(麼)？ (shénme?)
what did you say?你说(說)什么(麼)？ (ní shuō shénme?)
what about me?那我呢？ (Nà wǒ ne?)
what about going to a movie?去看电(電)影怎么(麼)样(樣)？ (Qù kàn diànyǐng zěnmeyàng?)
(in indirect questions/speech subject, object) 什么(麼) (shénme)
do you know what's happening?你知道发(發)生了什么(麼)事吗(嗎)？ (nǐ zhīdào fāshēngle shénme shì ma?)
tell me what he said告诉(訴)我他说(說)了什么(麼) (gàosù wǒ tā shuōle shénme)
(relative) 所 ... 的 (suǒ ... de)
I saw what was on the table我看见(見)了桌上的东(東)西 (wǒ kànjiànle zhuō shang de dōngxi)
what you say is wrong你所说(說)的是错(錯)的 (nǐ suǒ shuō de shì cuò de)
adj
(interrogative, in indirect questions/speech) 什么(麼) (shénme)
what time is it?几(幾)点(點)了？ (jǐdiǎn le?)
what size is this shirt?这(這)件衬(襯)衫是几(幾)码(碼)的？ (zhè jiàn chènshān shì jǐmǎ de?)
what number do I dial?我要拨(撥)什么(麼)号(號)码(碼)？ (wǒ yào bō shénme hàomǎ?)
what books do you need?你需要什么(麼)书(書)？ (nǐ xūyào shénme shū?)
(in exclamations) 多么(麼) (duōme)
what a mess!真是一团(團)糟！ (zhēnshi yītuánzāo!)
what a lovely day!多么(麼)好的天气(氣)啊！ (duōme hǎo de tiānqì a!)
what a fool I am!我真是个(個)傻子！ (wǒ zhēnshi gè shǎzi!)
int
(disbelieving) 什么(麼) (shénme)
what, no coffee!什么(麼)，没(沒)咖啡了！ (shénme, méi kāfēi le!)
对某人或某事物的外表或外形特征进行提问时，应该用 what或like 引导的问句，而不能用 how 引导的问句。例如， How is Susan?，可以用来询问 Susan 的健康状况。如果想知道她的外貌，则应问 What does Susan look like? 如果想了解她的个性，可以问 What is Susan like?
what?
什么(麼)？ (shénme?)
See what (sense 1)
what
(hwɒt)
pronunciation note: Usually pronounced (hwɒt) for meanings [sense 2], , [sense 4], , [sense 5] and , [sense 18].
1. pronoun
You use what in questions when you ask for specific information about something that you do not know.
What do you want?
What did she tell you, anyway?
'Has something happened?'—'Indeed it has.'—'What?'
What are the greatest sources of conflict in the Middle East?
Hey! What are you doing?
What is also a determiner.
What time is it?
What crimes are the defendants being charged with?
'The heater works.'—'What heater?'
What kind of poetry does he like?
2. conjunction
You use what after certain words, especially verbs and adjectives, when you are referring to a situation that is unknown or has not been specified.
You can imagine what it would be like driving a car into a brick wall at 30 milesan hour.
I want to know what happened to Norman.
Do you know what those idiots have done?
We had never seen anything like it before and could not see what to do next.
She turned scarlet from embarrassment, once she realized what she had done.
What is also a determiner.
I didn't know what college I wanted to go to.
I didn't know what else to say.
...an inspection to ascertain to what extent colleges are responding to the needsof industry.
3. conjunction
You use what at the beginning of a clause in structures where you are changing the order of the information to give special emphasis to something.
[emphasis]
What precisely triggered off yesterday's riot is still unclear.
What I wanted, more than anything, was a few days' rest.
What she does possess is the ability to get straight to the core of a problem.
4. conjunction
You use what in expressions such as what is called and what amounts to when you are giving a description of something.
She had been in what doctors described as an irreversible vegetative state for fiveyears.
It's part of the fashion for what could be called 'retrotainment'.
5. conjunction
You use what to indicate that you are talking about the whole of an amount that is available to you.
He drinks what is left in his glass as if it were water.
He moved carefully over what remained of partition walls.
What is also a determiner.
They had to use what money they had.
6. convention
You say 'What?' to tell someone who has indicated that they want to speak to you that you have heard them and are inviting them to continue.
[spoken, formulae]
'Dad?'—'What?'—'Can I have the car tonight?'
7. convention
You say 'What?' when you ask someone to repeat the thing that they have just said because you did not hear or understand it properly. 'What?' is more informal and less polite than expressions such as 'Pardon?' and 'Excuse me?'.
[spoken, formulae]
'They could paint this place,' she said. 'What?' he asked.
8. convention
You say 'What' to express surprise.
[feelings]
What! You want Saturday off as well?
'We've got the car that killed Myra Moss.'—'What!'
9. predeterminer
You use what in exclamations to emphasize an opinion or reaction.
[emphasis]
What a horrible thing to do.
What a busy day.
What is also a determiner.
What ugly things; throw them away!
What great news, Jakki.
10. adverb [ADVERB noun]
You use what to indicate that you are making a guess about something such as an amount or value.
It's, what, eleven years or more since he's seen him.
This piece is, what, about a half an hour long?
11.
See guess what/do you know what
12.
See or what
13.
See so what, what of it
14.
See tell you what
15.
See what about
16.
See what about/of
17.
See what about
18.
See what have you
19.
See what if
20.
See what's what
21.
See what with
22.
See you what
23. what's more
English Easy Learning GrammarDeterminersDeterminers are words that make the reference of nouns more specific. If I say ‘thiscar’ it is clear that I mean a particular car which is near me. If ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarExclamationsExclamations are short utterances that you make when you are very surprised or upset.They are not always whole sentences. Sometimes they are more like ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarExclamativesExclamatives are used to introduce an exclamation of surprise, admiration, or a similaremotion. The exclamatives are: what, such. Exclamations introduced ... Read more
what in British English
(wɒt, unstressed wət)
determiner
1.
a.
used with a noun in requesting further information about the identity or categorization of something
what job does he do?
b.
(as pronoun)
what is her address?
c.
(used in indirect questions)
does he know what person did this?
tell me what he said
2.
a.
the (person, thing, persons, or things) that
we photographed what animals we could see
b.
(as pronoun)
bring me what you've written
come what may
3.
(intensifier; used in exclamations)
what a good book!
adverb
4.
in what respect? to what degree?
what do you care?
pronoun
5. not standard
which, who, or that, when used as relative pronouns
this is the man what I saw in the park yesterday
6. what about
7. what for
8. what have you
9. what if
10. what matter
11. what's what
exclamation
12. informal
don't you think? don't you agree?
splendid party, what?
▶ USAGE The use of are in sentences such as what we need are more doctors is common, although many people think is should be used: what we need is more doctors
Word origin
Old English hwæt; related to Old Frisian whet, Old High German hwaz (German was), Old Norse hvatr
what in American English
(hwʌt; hwɑt; wʌt; wɑt)
pronoun
1. as an interrogative: which thing, event, circumstance, etc.?: used to ask for thespecification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc., as:
a.
the nature, class, name, purpose, etc. of a thing
what is that object? what is your address?
b.
a.
an explanation or repetition of something previously said
you told them what?
b.
such an explanation or repetition
used elliptically
“Sh. Quiet!” “What?”
c.
a quantity, sum, etc.
what will it cost?
d.
the value, importance, or effect of something
what is life without music?
2. as a relative pronoun, with the meaning:
a.
that which or those which
to know what one wants
b.
anything that
do what you will
c.
the exact person or thing that
he's not what he was five years ago
d.
that or who
a nonstandard usage
the man what gave it to me
3. as an intensifier in exclamations [what he said about her!]
4. in various other uses
a. Chiefly British, Informal
used to end a sentence with a general or rhetorical interrogative force
it's rather late, what?
b.
used to introduce a parenthetical element in a sentence
she has, what is rare, true tolerance
c.
used elliptically to mean “what it is,” “what to do,” etc.
I'll tell you what!
noun
5.
the true or basic quality of something
to uncover the what and why of their relationship
adjective
6.
which or which kind of
used interrogatively or relatively in asking for or specifying the nature, identity,etc. of a person or thing
what man told you that? he knows what role she played
7.
as much, or as many, as
take what time (or men) you need
8.
how great, surprising, magnificent, disappointing, etc.
in exclamations
what a man! what nonsense!
adverb
9.
in what respect? to what degree? how?
what does it matter?
10.
how greatly, surprisingly, etc.
in exclamations
what tragic news!
11. Obsolete
why?
conjunction
12. British, Dialectal
so far as; as much as
we warned them what we could
interjection
13.
used to express surprise, anger, confusion, etc.
what! no dinner?
Idioms:
and what not
what about
what for
what have you
what if
what it takes
what's what
what the heck (or hell, devil, etc.)
what though
what with
Word origin
ME hwat < OE hwæt, neut. of hwa, who < IE interrogative base *kwo-, *kwe- > where, who, L qui, who what, Lith kàs, what, who
Examples of 'what' in a sentence
what
This is not what car parking charges should be used for.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That is what whittling away a current account deficit really means.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They fit what used to be our criteria.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Would you like to know what mine is?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He knows what to say and what not to say.
The Sun (2016)
My attention is on something other than what can go wrong.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It's all about understanding as best we can what they will throw at us.
The Sun (2016)
Tell me ; what happened to that bike?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That's what makes people 's lives spin a bit faster.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The conference circuit is also a good place to learn about what competitors are up to.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The outstanding parking fee is at least five times what the car is worth.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But guess what she walked away with?
Pete Cohen and Sten Cummins with Jennai Cox HABIT BUSTING: A 10-step plan that will change your life (2002)
This trick uses what is known as a key card.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We must be ready for what is thrown at us.
The Sun (2013)
Your mind is clear and people really hear what you say as work plans take off.
The Sun (2014)
They decide to do something and what rights do we common people have?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We agreed what happened that night stayed there.
The Sun (2016)
But what about the rest of us?
The Sun (2007)
She opened the goody bag the minute she got in her car to see what was inside.
The Sun (2014)
But the term also catches what used to be called tax planning.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Strange what life can throw at you.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This one does what it says on the tin.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That little something extra is what turns a good film into a great film.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Nobody cared what sort of car they bought just as long as other road users knew it was new.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That is it; that is what my work is about.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You have to be true to that, you need to know what you stand for.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She blows me away with what she's doing vocally.
The Sun (2013)
Look at what you have; then look at what you want.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And the midfielder (below ) knows what it is like to get results against the champions.
The Sun (2012)
One investor said: 'What matters is what releases value to shareholders.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He once said: 'What made us what we were in those days was this wonderful feeling we were still part of the people.
The Sun (2007)
The farmer 's wife asked what I would like to eat.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I'm not sure what the club 's stance is now.
The Sun (2016)
Q ) So what is the solution?
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
what
British English: what /wɒt; wət/ DETERMINER
You use what with a noun, when you ask for information.
What time is it?
American English: what
Arabic: أيُّ
Brazilian Portuguese: que
Chinese: 什么
Croatian: Koliko
Czech: jaký
Danish: hvilken
Dutch: welke
European Spanish: qué
Finnish: mikä
French: quel
German: welcher
Greek: τι
Italian: quale
Japanese: 何の
Korean: 무슨
Norwegian: hva
Polish: jaki
European Portuguese: que
Romanian: cât
Russian: который
Latin American Spanish: que
Swedish: vad
Thai: อะไร
Turkish: ne
Ukrainian: який
Vietnamese: gì
British English: what /wɒt; wət/ PRONOUN
You use what in questions when you ask for information.