Cool MateWhat do you mean vs What's that supposed to mean
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What do you mean
Top 2,000 (common)
What's that supposed to mean
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: What do you mean
| What do you mean | What's that supposed to mean | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt duː jʊ miːn//🇺🇸 //wɑt du jʊ min// | 🇬🇧 //wɒts ðæt səˈpəʊzd tuː miːn//🇺🇸 //wɑts ðæt səˈpoʊzd tə min// |
| Meaning | What do you want to say? | What does that mean? |
| Example | I didn't catch that last part, what do you mean? | When she said she was 'busy', I thought, 'What's that supposed to mean?' |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | what do you mean by, ask what do you mean, explain what do you mean | What do you mean?, I don't understand, Can you explain that? |
| Antonyms | I don't understand, What do you not mean, What are you unclear about | - |
| Common mistakes | Using it after every sentence, which can sound confusing., Incorrectly assuming it can replace 'what does this mean?', Not using it when genuinely confused. | Using it in formal meetings, Confusing it with 'What does that mean?', Not using it when feeling confused |
| Usage notes | Use when you need clarification about someone's statement. Avoid in very formal contexts; use it with friends or in conversations. | Use this phrase when you find something unclear or confusing. It's casual and best for conversations with friends, not formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: What do you mean vs What's that supposed to mean
What's the difference between What do you mean and What's that supposed to mean?
What do you mean: What do you want to say? What's that supposed to mean: What does that mean?
Which is more formal: What do you mean and What's that supposed to mean?
What do you mean is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
What do you mean: I didn't catch that last part, what do you mean? What's that supposed to mean: When she said she was 'busy', I thought, 'What's that supposed to mean?'
Can I use What do you mean and What's that supposed to mean interchangeably?
Not always. What do you mean and What's that supposed to mean 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.