wh-word: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical (linguistics, language teaching)
Quick answer
What does “wh-word” mean?
A function word used to introduce a question (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A function word used to introduce a question (e.g., who, what, where, when, why, which, whose, how) or a subordinate clause (e.g., relative pronoun).
In formal linguistics, a term for the syntactic category of interrogative or relative words, often marking the focus of a question or forming a relative clause.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily no differences in usage of the term. The underlying wh-words themselves (e.g., 'which', 'whom') may show minor frequency variations.
Connotations
A purely technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Identical, as it's a term of art within linguistics and language pedagogy.
Grammar
How to Use “wh-word” in a Sentence
[+ COMPLEMENTIZER] e.g., I wonder [which book] he chose.[+ MOVEMENT] e.g., [What] did you buy __?Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “wh-word” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The linguist sought to wh-move the phrase.
American English
- The syntax forces the verb to wh-agree with the specifier.
adverb
British English
- The phrase moved wh-upwards in the tree.
American English
- The element is positioned wh-in-situ.
adjective
British English
- We analysed the wh-phrase structure.
American English
- The wh-dependency was clearly marked.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in training about 'asking the right questions' or '5 Whys' root-cause analysis.
Academic
Common in linguistics, syntax, and language acquisition research.
Everyday
Almost never used. People use the specific words (who, what) not the category label.
Technical
Standard term in generative grammar, HPSG, and other syntactic frameworks.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “wh-word”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “wh-word”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “wh-word”
- Spelling as 'W-word' or 'WH word'.
- Including 'if' or 'whether' (these introduce questions but are not wh-words).
- Forgetting that 'how' belongs to this class despite its spelling.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, despite beginning with 'h', 'how' patterns syntactically and functionally with wh-words (who, what) and is included in the category.
In generative grammar, it's the syntactic operation by which a wh-word (or phrase containing it) moves from its base position to the clause-initial specifier position of CP.
Yes, they are used in relative clauses (the book which I read) and embedded/exclamative clauses (I know what you did; How amazing!).
Because most of the core English interrogatives (who, what, where, when, why, which, whose) begin with the digraph 'wh-'.
A function word used to introduce a question (e.
Wh-word is usually technical (linguistics, language teaching) in register.
Wh-word: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdʌbəljuː eɪtʃ wɜːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdʌbəlju eɪtʃ wɝːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To know the whys and wherefores (uses wh-words idiomatically).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Wh' as standing for '**W**hich **H**elper' word asks a Question.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUESTIONS ARE KEYS (wh-words unlock information).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT traditionally classified as a wh-word in English?