Cool MateWhat do you mean vs What's that mean
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What do you mean
Top 2,000 (common)
What's that mean
Top 2,000 (common)
| What do you mean | What's that mean | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt duː jʊ miːn//🇺🇸 //wɑt du jʊ min// | 🇬🇧 //wɒts ðæt miːn//🇺🇸 //wɑts ðæt min// |
| Meaning | What do you want to say? | What does that mean? |
| Example | I didn't catch that last part, what do you mean? | When I heard the term, I thought, 'What's that mean?' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | what do you mean by, ask what do you mean, explain what do you mean | ask what's that mean, wonder what's that mean, question what's that mean |
| Antonyms | I don't understand, What do you not mean, What are you unclear about | - |
| Common mistakes | Using it after every sentence, which can sound confusing., Incorrectly assuming it can replace 'what does this mean?', Not using it when genuinely confused. | Using the phrase with a serious tone in formal situations., Omitting the context when asking, making it unclear what 'that' refers to. |
| Usage notes | Use when you need clarification about someone's statement. Avoid in very formal contexts; use it with friends or in conversations. | Use when seeking clarification or asking for the meaning of something. Informal contexts are more common. |
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Frequently asked questions: What do you mean vs What's that mean
What's the difference between What do you mean and What's that mean?
What do you mean: What do you want to say? What's that mean: What does that mean?
Can you show an example of each?
What do you mean: I didn't catch that last part, what do you mean? What's that mean: When I heard the term, I thought, 'What's that mean?'
Can I use What do you mean and What's that mean interchangeably?
Not always. What do you mean and What's that mean 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.