Cool MateWhat are you vs Who are you
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What are you
Top 3,000 (common)
Who are you
High-frequency chunk
Most common: Who are you
| What are you | Who are you | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt ɑː juː//🇺🇸 //wɑt ɑr ju// | 🇬🇧 //huː ɑː jʊ//🇺🇸 //hu ɑr jʊ// |
| Meaning | A common question asking about someone's identity or feelings. | A question asking for someone's identity. |
| Example | When I saw him after a long time, I asked, 'What are you?' | In the crowd, I turned to the stranger and asked, 'Who are you?' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | High-frequency chunk |
| Collocations | What are you doing, What are you thinking, What are you up to | who are you talking to, who are you with, who are you coming with |
| Antonyms | - | Who am I, What are you, Who is he, Who is she |
| Common mistakes | Often incorrectly structured as 'What you are?', Confused with 'Who are you?' which asks for identification., Misused in contexts where a more specific question is appropriate. | Omitting the auxiliary verb and saying 'who you are?', Using 'who is you?' instead of 'who are you?', Confusing it with 'what are you?' which asks about roles or professions. |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversation to inquire about someone's current emotional state or identity; not typically used in formal writing. | Use in both formal and informal contexts when meeting someone new. Avoid in overly formal situations where titles may be preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: What are you vs Who are you
What's the difference between What are you and Who are you?
What are you: A common question asking about someone's identity or feelings. Who are you: A question asking for someone's identity.
Which is more common: What are you and Who are you?
Who are you is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
What are you: When I saw him after a long time, I asked, 'What are you?' Who are you: In the crowd, I turned to the stranger and asked, 'Who are you?'
Can I use What are you and Who are you interchangeably?
Not always. What are you and Who are you are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.