Cool MateWhich vs Who
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Which
Top 1,000 (very common)A1
Who
High-frequency chunkA1pronoun
| Which | Who | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/wɪtʃ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɪtʃ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/huː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/huː/"]/ |
| Meaning | used to ask about one or more items from a group | A word used to ask about a person. |
| Example | Which is better exercise—swimming or tennis? | Who is that woman? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | High-frequency chunk |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | |
| Collocations | which one, which books, which option | who is, who are, who knows |
| Antonyms | that, who, what | someone, somebody, anyone, anybody |
| Common mistakes | '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. | Using 'who' for objects instead of 'whom'., 'Who' used incorrectly after prepositions like 'to'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'which' when asking to specify one item from a defined set. Avoid using 'which' with totally open-ended questions where anything could apply. | Used to inquire about someone's identity; appropriate in both formal and informal settings. Avoid using it in contexts where specifics are required, like in legal or detailed reports. |
Frequently asked questions: Which vs Who
What's the difference between Which and Who?
Which: used to ask about one or more items from a group Who: A word used to ask about a person.
Are Which and Who the same CEFR level?
Which: A1, Who: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Which: Which is better exercise—swimming or tennis? Who: Who is that woman?
Can I use Which and Who interchangeably?
Not always. Which and Who 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.