Cool MateWho are you vs Who's this
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Who are you
High-frequency chunk
Who's this
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Who are you
| Who are you | Who's this | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //huː ɑː jʊ//🇺🇸 //hu ɑr jʊ// | 🇬🇧 //huːz ðɪs//🇺🇸 //huːz ðɪs// |
| Meaning | A question asking for someone's identity. | A way to ask about someone's identity. |
| Example | In the crowd, I turned to the stranger and asked, 'Who are you?' | As the door opened, he turned to his friend and asked, 'Who's this?' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | who are you talking to, who are you with, who are you coming with | Who's this over here?, Who's this on the phone?, Who's this in the photo? |
| Antonyms | Who am I, What are you, Who is he, Who is she | - |
| Common mistakes | Omitting the auxiliary verb and saying 'who you are?', Using 'who is you?' instead of 'who are you?', Confusing it with 'what are you?' which asks about roles or professions. | Using it in very formal situations where a more direct question is needed., Confusing it with 'Who is this?' when referring to a specific person., Failing to use proper intonation to convey curiosity. |
| Usage notes | Use in both formal and informal contexts when meeting someone new. Avoid in overly formal situations where titles may be preferred. | Used to inquire about an unknown person, often in informal settings. Appropriate when meeting someone new or when someone enters a conversation unexpectedly. |
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Frequently asked questions: Who are you vs Who's this
What's the difference between Who are you and Who's this?
Who are you: A question asking for someone's identity. Who's this: A way to ask about someone's identity.
Which is more common: Who are you and Who's this?
Who are you is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Who are you: In the crowd, I turned to the stranger and asked, 'Who are you?' Who's this: As the door opened, he turned to his friend and asked, 'Who's this?'
Can I use Who are you and Who's this interchangeably?
Not always. Who are you and Who's this 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.