Ever wondered how one little word can completely shift the vibe of a sentence? Well, what does just that! From curious questions to dramatic exclamations, what is like the Swiss Army knife of the English language, adapting to any conversation, mood, or situation. Whether you're asking, explaining, or even panicking, what, what, WHAT, whaaat, whattt, wwwwwhat, w-hat..?!

In this article, we’ll explore the many fun and surprising ways what can change the direction of your sentences. Ready to see what what can do? Let’s dive in!

But first for those who don’t have a clue what the meaning of what is.. well here’s something for you to memorise:

“What’s what with what when what’s what’s what, and what’s the best what to what with what?”

Quick Definition: "What" is that word you throw in when you're confused, curious, or just plain amazed - whether you're asking a question, seeking clarification, or yelling "WHAT?!" in horror.

We prefer the horror part. Sometimes.

There’s a lot more to that definition. But let’s get on,

1. Asking Questions (Curious Mode)

What’s your name?
What’s for dinner?
What happens here? "What" can turn you into a super curious person, just asking questions all the time. But that’s not necessarily good. So keep the what in.

2. Explaining Stuff (Mystery Solver Mode)

What I want is a vacation!
What he said was really confusing.
What happens here? "What" becomes like the detective in your sentence, helping explain things. Kind of detective.

3. Exclaiming (Surprise Mode)

What a beautiful day!
What a fantastic movie!
What happens here? You’re super excited or amazed, using "what" to show how awesome something is.

4. Giving Instructions (Teacher Mode)

What you need is a good plan.
What we should do next is...
What happens here? That wise old teacher, showing the way.

5. Hypothetical Situations (What If Mode)

What if we tried something new?
What if I gave you a million dollars?
What happens here? "What" gets you thinking about crazy possibilities or “what if” scenarios.

6. Rhetorical Questions (Sassy Mode)

What were you thinking?
What’s the point of this?
What happens here? "What" turns you into the sarcastic friend, asking questions that don’t really need answers. Now we can’t say only sarcastic. That friend can be downright dictatorial, bossy, tyrannical, opinionated, pushy, and a bit too whtsy.

7. Reporting Questions (Gossip Mode)

She asked what time the meeting is.
He wanted to know what happened at the party.
What happens here? "What" gets all the juicy details, like a gossiping friend who just has to spill the tea. Although juice got in the tea, that’s a thought for another day.

8. Clarifying (Explainer Mode)

Let me show you what I mean.
I’ll explain what I did wrong.
What happens here? "What" is like your translator, helping clear up any confusion.

And there are plenty more "whats" out there, depending on the vibe you want to draw. So choose a good what to whtsy your work.

The Many Faces of "What"