Cool MateWho are the others vs Who else
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Who are the others
Top 2,000 (common)
Who else
Top 2,000 (common)
| Who are the others | Who else | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //huː ɑː ðə ˈʌðəz//🇺🇸 //hu ɑr ði ˈʌðərz// | 🇬🇧 //huː ɛls//🇺🇸 //huː ɛls// |
| Meaning | People who are not you or the main people being considered. | Who more is there? |
| Example | I spoke with the team, but who are the others? | We have John and Sarah. Who else is coming? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | ask who are the others, find out who are the others, consider who are the others | ask who else, invite who else, know who else |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'who is it?' when implying a single person., Incorrectly using 'others' to refer to groups of the same type instead of different types. | Using 'who else' in a statement instead of a question., Confusing 'who else' with 'who' when specifying one person only. |
| Usage notes | Use when referring to additional people not directly involved. Appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. | Use when asking for additional people. Common in casual conversations, but can also be used in formal inquiries. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Who are the others vs Who else
What's the difference between Who are the others and Who else?
Who are the others: People who are not you or the main people being considered. Who else: Who more is there?
Can you show an example of each?
Who are the others: I spoke with the team, but who are the others? Who else: We have John and Sarah. Who else is coming?
Can I use Who are the others and Who else interchangeably?
Not always. Who are the others and Who else 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.