Cool MateWhat vs Which
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What
High-frequency chunkA1
Which
Top 1,000 (very common)A1
| What | Which | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/wɒt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wʌt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/wɪtʃ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɪtʃ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Used to ask for information about something. | used to ask about one or more items from a group |
| Example | What is your name? | Which is better exercise—swimming or tennis? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 |
| Collocations | what time, what if, what about | which one, which books, which option |
| Antonyms | that, nothing | that, who, what |
| Common mistakes | 'What' is sometimes confused with 'which' when choosing from specific options., Learners may forget to use a subject after 'what'., Using 'what' to ask about time, when 'when' should be used. | 'Which' vs. 'what' confusion - 'which' is for limited choices., Omitting 'which' in questions – e.g., 'What book do you want?' instead of 'Which book?', Using 'which' with plural nouns without context – 'Which animals?' needs clarification. |
| Usage notes | Used to ask questions in a variety of situations. Avoid in very formal contexts; in those cases, use 'that which' or 'which one'. | Use 'which' when asking to specify one item from a defined set. Avoid using 'which' with totally open-ended questions where anything could apply. |
Frequently asked questions: What vs Which
What's the difference between What and Which?
What: Used to ask for information about something. Which: used to ask about one or more items from a group
Are What and Which the same CEFR level?
What: A1, Which: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
What: What is your name? Which: Which is better exercise—swimming or tennis?
Can I use What and Which interchangeably?
Not always. What and Which 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.