How to Pronounce What in English

Wondering how to pronounce the word “what”?

How to Pronounce “What”

What is pronounced w-o-t.

It’s a short, one-syllable word with a clear and straightforward pronunciation.

Noun: “What” is commonly used as a noun in questions, often seeking information or clarification. For example, you might ask, “What is your favorite color?”

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1 / 20

What is a simile?

A) A comparison using "like" or "as".

B) A direct comparison without using "like" or "as".

C) An exaggerated statement.

D) A figure of speech that gives human qualities to non-human things.

2 / 20

Identify the simile in the following sentence: “She swims like a fish.”

A) She swims

B) like a fish

C) swims like

D) a fish

3 / 20

What is a metaphor?

A) A comparison that uses "like" or "as".

B) A direct comparison that does not use "like" or "as".

C) An expression that means something other than the literal meanings of its words.

D) A word that sounds like its meaning.

4 / 20

Which of the following is a metaphor?

A) He is as brave as a lion.

B) Her tears were a river flowing down her cheeks.

C) She runs like the wind.

D) He barked orders at his team.

5 / 20

What is an idiom?

A) A literal expression.

B) A comparison using "like" or "as".

C) A group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words.

D) A direct comparison without using "like" or "as".

6 / 20

What does the idiom “break the ice” mean?

A) To literally break ice.

B) To start a conversation in a social setting.

C) To cool down a situation.

D) To freeze something quickly.

7 / 20

What is an adjective?

A) A word that describes or modifies a noun.

B) A word that shows action.

C) A word that replaces a noun.

D) A word that connects words together.

8 / 20

Choose the adjective in the following sentence: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”

A) quick, brown

B) jumps

C) over

D) dog

9 / 20

What is an abbreviation?

A) A shortened form of a word or phrase.

B) A long form of a word.

C) A word used to describe another word.

D) A word used in place of a noun.

10 / 20

What does the abbreviation “e.g.” stand for?

A) End game

B) Exempli gratia (for example)

C) Ergo (therefore)

Estimated guess

11 / 20

What is a verb?

A) A word that describes a noun.

B) A word that indicates action, occurrence, or existence.

C) A word that connects two parts of a sentence.

D) A word that modifies a verb.

12 / 20

Identify the verb in the following sentence: “The cat sleeps on the sofa.”

A) The

B) cat

C) sleeps

D) sofa

13 / 20

“Out of the frying pan into the fire” is an example of:

A) A simile.

B) A metaphor.

C) An idiom.

D) An adjective.

14 / 20

Which of the following is an adjective?

A) Quickly

B) Beautiful

C) Run

D) Under

15 / 20

The abbreviation “NASA” stands for:

A) National Aeronautics and Space Administration

B) North American Space Agency

C) National Association of Space Astronauts

D) None of the above

16 / 20

Choose the metaphor in the following sentence: “Time is a thief.”

A) Time

B) is

C) a thief

D) None of the above

17 / 20

What does the idiom “hit the books” mean?

A) To physically hit books.

B) To start studying.

C) To write a book.

D) To organize books on a shelf.

18 / 20

Which of the following sentences contains a simile?

A) He is a shining star.

B) She danced like there was no tomorrow.

C) Life is a rollercoaster.

D) They moved mountains to be together.

19 / 20

“LOL” is an abbreviation for:

A) Lots Of Love

B) Little Old Lady

C) Long Overdue Library-book

D) Laugh Out Loud

20 / 20

Identify the verb in this sentence: “They whispered secrets into the night.”

A) They

B) secrets

C) whispered

D) night

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In this case, “what” is used to inquire about a specific thing or piece of information.

Verb: Interestingly, “what” can also be used as a verb in some contexts. When used this way, it usually means to emphasize or repeat something with curiosity or surprise.

For instance, if someone says, “I won the lottery,” you might respond with, “What?!” Here, “what” is used as a verb to express astonishment.

What Does “What” Mean?

“What” is a question word that is used to request information about something or someone. It’s one of the fundamental question words in the English language, and it’s used to seek clarification, details, or explanations.

The History of the Word

The word “what” has its roots in Old English, where it was spelled as “hwæt.” Over time, its pronunciation and spelling evolved, but its essential meaning as a question word remained unchanged. Throughout the history of the English language, “what” has played a vital role in communication.

When to Use “What”

You should use the word “what” whenever you want to ask a question, seek information, or express surprise or curiosity. It’s a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, both in spoken and written language.

Examples of the Word in Context

1. Interrogative Sentence:
   • What is your favorite book?
   • What time does the movie start?
   • What did you have for breakfast?
2. Expressing Surprise:
   • What a beautiful sunset!
   • What an amazing performance!
   • What a surprise party!

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering the pronunciation of the word “what” is a simple task. Remember to say it as “w-o-t.” This versatile word serves as a fundamental tool for asking questions, seeking information, and expressing curiosity or surprise.