Dictionary
English - French

What

(h)wət
Extremely common
0 - 100
0 - 100
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Quoi, Que, Quel, Qu'est-ce que, À quoi

What meanings in French

Quoi

Example:
What are you doing?
Que fais-tu ?
What is this?
Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
Usage: InformalContext: Used in questions to inquire about actions or objects.
Note: Commonly used in everyday conversation.

Que

Example:
What you said is correct.
Ce que tu as dit est correct.
What I want is peace.
Ce que je veux, c'est la paix.
Usage: Formal/InformalContext: Used in statements to specify or clarify information.
Note: Used to refer to things or ideas in a declarative manner.

Quel

Example:
What book are you reading?
Quel livre lis-tu ?
What movie do you recommend?
Quel film recommandes-tu ?
Usage: Formal/InformalContext: Used to ask for specific information about a noun.
Note: Agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

Qu'est-ce que

Example:
What is your name?
Qu'est-ce que tu t'appelles ?
What do you think?
Qu'est-ce que tu en penses ?
Usage: InformalContext: Used to start questions that ask for explanations or opinions.
Note: Commonly used in conversational French.

À quoi

Example:
What are you looking at?
À quoi est-ce que tu regardes ?
What is this related to?
À quoi cela se rapporte-t-il ?
Usage: Formal/InformalContext: Used to ask about the purpose or relation of something.
Note: Often used in more specific contexts.

What's synonyms

Which

Used to ask about a choice or selection between options.
Example: Which book do you want to read?
Note: While 'what' is more general, 'which' is used when there are specific options to choose from.

Which one

Similar to 'which,' used to ask about a specific choice among options.
Example: Which one is your favorite color?
Note: Adding 'one' emphasizes the selection of a single item among multiple options.

Whatever

Used to indicate that the specific choice or option does not matter.
Example: You can choose whatever you like from the menu.
Note: While 'what' asks for a specific answer, 'whatever' implies a more open or indifferent attitude towards the choice.

Which one of

Similar to 'which one,' used to inquire about a specific choice among a group of options.
Example: Which one of these paintings do you think is the most beautiful?
Note: The addition of 'of' emphasizes the selection process from a specific group.

What expressions, common phrases

What's up?

This is a casual greeting asking how someone is or what they are doing.
Example: Hey, John! What's up?
Note: The phrase 'What's up?' is a casual greeting rather than a question about something specific.

What's the matter?

This is used to inquire about the problem or issue bothering someone.
Example: You look upset. What's the matter?
Note: The phrase 'What's the matter?' specifically asks about a problem or concern.

What do you mean?

This is used to ask for clarification or further explanation about something not understood.
Example: I didn't understand your explanation. What do you mean?
Note: The phrase 'What do you mean?' seeks clarification and elaboration on a statement or concept.

What's your name?

This is a common question asking for someone's name.
Example: Nice to meet you! What's your name?
Note: The phrase 'What's your name?' is a direct question seeking the identity of the person.

What the heck?

This is an expression of surprise, confusion, or disbelief.
Example: What the heck are you talking about?
Note: The phrase 'What the heck?' is an informal way of expressing strong emotions.

What a shame!

This is used to express disappointment or regret about a situation.
Example: He couldn't make it to the party. What a shame!
Note: The phrase 'What a shame!' expresses a sense of disappointment or regret.

What's on your mind?

This is a way to ask someone what they are thinking about or feeling.
Example: You seem lost in thought. What's on your mind?
Note: The phrase 'What's on your mind?' inquires about someone's thoughts or emotions.

What goes around comes around

This means that the consequences of one's actions will eventually come back to them.
Example: She helped me when I was in need, and now I'm helping her. What goes around comes around.
Note: The phrase 'What goes around comes around' conveys the idea of karma or the principle of cause and effect.

What everyday (slang) expressions

Whatcha

Whatcha is a contraction of 'what are you' in informal spoken English.
Example: Whatcha doing later?
Note: Whatcha is more casual and conversational than 'what are you'. It is commonly used in informal settings.

Wassup

Wassup is a slang term derived from 'what's up', used to ask what is going on or how someone is doing.
Example: Wassup with you?
Note: Wassup is a casual and informal way of asking 'what's happening?', typically used in informal greetings.

Whaddya

Whaddya is a contraction of 'what do you' in informal spoken English.
Example: Whaddya want for dinner?
Note: Whaddya is a colloquial form used in casual conversations or quick inquiries.

Whatchamacallit

Whatchamacallit is a placeholder term used when someone can't remember or doesn't know the name of something.
Example: Pass me the whatchamacallit over there.
Note: Whatchamacallit is informal and used when the specific name of an object is unknown or forgotten.

Whatnot

Whatnot is used to refer to unspecified additional things or items.
Example: I need to buy groceries, toiletries, and whatnot for the trip.
Note: Whatnot is a casual and vague term used to encompass various miscellaneous items or activities without specifying them.

Wha'cha

Wha'cha is a contracted form of 'what are you' often used in informal spoken language.
Example: Wha'cha think of the movie?
Note: Wha'cha is a casual and conversational way to ask for someone's opinion or thoughts.

Whatchu

Whatchu is a colloquial contraction of 'what have you' or 'what are you'.
Example: Whatchu been up to lately?
Note: Whatchu is an informal way of non-standard English often used in relaxed conversations.

What - Examples

What is your name?
Quel est votre nom ?
What time is it?
Quelle heure est-il ?
What do you want to eat?
Que voulez-vous manger ?
What is your favorite color?
Quelle est votre couleur préférée ?

What grammar

What - Pronoun (Pronoun) / Wh-pronoun (Wh-pronoun)
Lemma: what
Conjugations
Syllables, Separation and Stress
What Contains 1 syllables: what
Phonetic transcription: ˈ(h)wät
what , ˈ(h)wät (The red syllable is stressed)

What - Importance and usage frequency

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
What: 0 - 100 (Extremely common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
Vocafy, efficient language learning
Vocafy, efficient language learning
Vocafy helps you discover, organize, and learn new words and phrases with ease. Build personalized vocabulary collections, and practice anytime, anywhere.