Read along with the three podcasts, or open the full dictionary entry for What for the definition, Arabic meaning, synonyms and example sentences.
Narrator: Today's word is what. It's a question word, a pronoun and determiner, used to ask about things or to introduce a clause.
Narrator: You say it WOT, rhyming with hot, one syllable. In phonetic notation, that's /wɒt/.
Narrator: What asks for information about something, as in what is that, or it links a clause, as in I know what you mean.
Narrator: It comes from the Old English hwæt, an ancient question word, the very same hwæt that opens the old poem Beowulf.
Narrator: It does many jobs, asking questions, what time is it, exclaiming, what a day, and relating clauses, tell me what happened.
Narrator: It's one of the most common words in English, small but mighty, doing daily work in nearly every conversation.
Narrator: In tone, what is plain and universal. So remember: what asks about things, links clauses, and even adds emphasis, what a word.
Speaker A: What did you think of the film last night?
Speaker B: Loved it. See, what there is asking for information.
Speaker A: Exactly. And I know what you mean about the slow start.
Speaker B: Right, that's what linking a clause. One thing, what can also exclaim, what a finish!
Speaker A: Good point. So it asks, links, and emphasises.
Speaker B: Exactly. A common slip is what versus which, use which for a fixed set of choices.
Speaker A: True. Which colour, from these three, but what colour in general.
Speaker B: Yes. So tell me what you need.
Speaker A: Right. What a lovely surprise.
Speaker B: Lovely. One word, asking, linking, emphasising.
Speaker B: Today we'll use the word what to write AI prompts about questions, search queries, and information-finding features in apps.
Speaker B: Picture a help app. Here's a clean prompt.
Prompt: Build a help app in React with a what-can-I-do panel that answers questions like what does this button do, so users instantly learn what each feature does.
Speaker B: It works because what frames the app around answering real user questions.
Speaker A: Nice. Could what guide a search too?
Speaker B: Absolutely. Try this.
Prompt: Add a search that understands what questions, so typing what is my balance returns the answer directly, telling users exactly what they asked for.
Speaker B: Here what shapes the search around natural questions.
Speaker A: Clear. What about a database?
Speaker B: Use the query sense.
Prompt: Create a SQL view that answers what sold most this week, ranking products by sales, so a manager sees what is selling at a glance.
Speaker B: Saying what frames the query around a clear question.
Speaker A: Love that. Can we build a small app?
Speaker B: Minimal but precise.
Prompt: Create a simple FAQ app where each entry starts with a what question and a short answer, so users scan what they need and tap to read more.
Speaker B: One word, what, frames the whole FAQ app, so the prompt stays memorable.
Speaker A: And for onboarding?
Speaker B: Same question idea.
Prompt: Add a tour that answers what is this on each screen, so new users always know what they're looking at.
Speaker B: The word what keeps onboarding clear and reassuring.
Speaker A: Brilliant. One last quick prompt for a chatbot?
Speaker B: Here you go.
Prompt: Build a chatbot that handles what questions first, like what time do you open, so users get what they want without scrolling.
Speaker B: So the rule is simple: use what for questions, queries, and finding information.
Speaker A: Got it. What asks about things and links clauses. Easy to recall and easy to type.
What — meaning in Arabic & definition More W courses GL Dictionary