which

English

/wɪt͡ʃ/, /ʍɪt͡ʃ/

det
Definitions
  • (interrogative) What, of those mentioned or implied.
  • (relative) The one or ones mentioned.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English which inherited from Old English hwelċ (which) inherited from Proto-Germanic *hwilīkaz (what kind of, what sort of, what kind, like what) compound from English who + English like (lich, body)root from Proto-Indo-European *kʷ-.

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*kʷ-

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms