Cool MateWhat about you vs What do you think
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What about you
Top 2,000 (common)
What do you think
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most common: What do you think
| What about you | What do you think | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt əˈbaʊt juː//🇺🇸 //wɔt əˈbaʊt ju// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt də juː θɪŋk//🇺🇸 //wɑt də ju θɪŋk// |
| Meaning | A question asking someone for their opinion or situation. | Ask someone for their opinion. |
| Example | I love hiking on weekends. What about you? | What do you think about this plan? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | what about you, not much, what about you, what about you guys, what about you, though | ask what you think, what do you think about, I wonder what you think |
| Antonyms | - | I don't think, I have no opinion, I disagree, I believe the opposite |
| Common mistakes | Omitted 'what' in casual speech, saying just 'about you?', Used inappropriately in formal emails or letters., Confused with 'how about you?' in some contexts. | Confused with 'what do you want', Forgetting to use a question mark at the end, Using it too abruptly without context |
| Usage notes | Used in conversations to invite someone to share their thoughts. Appropriate in both casual and formal settings, but can sound informal in professional contexts. | Use in discussions to invite others' opinions. Avoid in formal presentations or when you expect a specific answer. |
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Frequently asked questions: What about you vs What do you think
What's the difference between What about you and What do you think?
What about you: A question asking someone for their opinion or situation. What do you think: Ask someone for their opinion.
Which is more common: What about you and What do you think?
What do you think is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
What about you: I love hiking on weekends. What about you? What do you think: What do you think about this plan?
Can I use What about you and What do you think interchangeably?
Not always. What about you and What do you think 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.