When vs Whenever

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

	When	Whenever
Meaning	A word used to ask about or talk about time.	every time that something happens
CEFR level	A1	B1
Part of speech	adverb	conjunction
Usage notes	Used to ask questions about time (e.g., 'When is the meeting?') or to indicate time in statements (e.g., 'I will call you when I get home.'). It's appropriate in both spoken and written English.	Use 'whenever' to indicate a time something occurs. It's suitable for both spoken and written English, but avoid in very formal documents.

Frequently asked questions: When vs Whenever

What's the difference between "When" and "Whenever"?

"When" means: A word used to ask about or talk about time. "Whenever" means: every time that something happens

When should I use "When" and "Whenever"?

They can all be used in everyday English.

Are "When" and "Whenever" the same CEFR level?

"When" is at A1, "Whenever" is at B1 on the CEFR scale.