Cool MateWho vs Whom
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Who
High-frequency chunkA1pronoun
Whom
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)B2pronoun
Most formal: WhomMost common: Who
| Who | Whom | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/huː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/huː/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/huːm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/huːm/"]/ |
| Meaning | A word used to ask about a person. | Used instead of 'who' when talking about the object of a verb or preposition. |
| Example | Who is that woman? | Whom did they invite? |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | pronoun |
| Collocations | who is, who are, who knows | to whom it may concern, whom do you prefer?, with whom are you talking |
| Antonyms | someone, somebody, anyone, anybody | who |
| Common mistakes | Using 'who' for objects instead of 'whom'., 'Who' used incorrectly after prepositions like 'to'. | Using 'who' instead of 'whom' in object positions., 'Whom' is often omitted in casual talk., Confusing 'whom' with 'who' when using in questions. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Use 'whom' in more formal situations or writing. In everyday conversation, many people use 'who' instead. It's often used following prepositions. |
Frequently asked questions: Who vs Whom
What's the difference between Who and Whom?
Who: A word used to ask about a person. Whom: Used instead of 'who' when talking about the object of a verb or preposition.
Which is more formal: Who and Whom?
Whom is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Who and Whom?
Who is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Who and Whom?
Whom is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Who and Whom the same CEFR level?
Who: A1, Whom: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Who and Whom?
Who: pronoun, Whom: pronoun.
Can you show an example of each?
Who: Who is that woman? Whom: Whom did they invite?
Can I use Who and Whom interchangeably?
Not always. Who and Whom 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.