Cool MateHow 'bout that vs What do you say
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
How 'bout that
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
What do you say
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: What do you sayMost common: What do you say
| How 'bout that | What do you say | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //haʊ baʊt ðæt//🇺🇸 //haʊ baʊt ðæt// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt də jʊ seɪ//🇺🇸 //wɑt də ju seɪ// |
| Meaning | What do you think about that? | A way to ask someone what they think or how they respond. |
| Example | I just won the lottery! How 'bout that? | I just told her my idea; what do you say? |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | how 'bout that for a surprise, how 'bout that reaction, how 'bout that news | what do you say to, what do you say about, what do you say we |
| Antonyms | - | silence, ignore, refuse to answer |
| Common mistakes | Used in formal contexts where it sounds inappropriate., Confused with 'how about that', implying similar meaning. | Omitting the question mark when used as a direct question, Using it in very formal situations where a more direct phrase is better, Confusing it with 'what do you mean?' |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversations to express agreement or surprise. Not suitable for formal settings. | Used when prompting someone for a response. Generally appropriate in casual and semi-formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: How 'bout that vs What do you say
What's the difference between How 'bout that and What do you say?
How 'bout that: What do you think about that? What do you say: A way to ask someone what they think or how they respond.
Which is more formal: How 'bout that and What do you say?
What do you say is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: How 'bout that and What do you say?
What do you say is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
How 'bout that: I just won the lottery! How 'bout that? What do you say: I just told her my idea; what do you say?
Can I use How 'bout that and What do you say interchangeably?
Not always. How 'bout that and What do you say 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.