what

English

/wɔt/, /ʍɒt/, /wɒt/, /ʍʌt/, [wʌɾ]

pron
Definitions
  • (interrogative) Which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used interrogatively in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.
  • That which; those that; the thing that.
  • (relative) That; which; who.
  • Whatever.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English what inherited from Old English hwæt (what, quick) inherited from Proto-Germanic *hwat (what) inherited from Proto-Indo-European *kʷód (what), *kʷ-.

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*kʷ-

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms