Cool MateWhat is this vs What's this
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What is this
Top 2,000 (common)
What's this
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most common: What's this
| What is this | What's this | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt ɪz ðɪs//🇺🇸 //wɑt ɪz ðɪs// | 🇬🇧 //wɒts ðɪs//🇺🇸 //wɑts ðɪs// |
| Meaning | A question asking about the identity of something. | A question asking about something you see or have. |
| Example | Excuse me, **what is this** on the table? | When I saw the strange device on the table, I asked, 'What's this?' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | what is this thing, what is this about, what is this supposed to be | what's this about, what's this place, what's this doing here |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'is', saying 'what this?' instead, Using 'who' instead of 'what' for inanimate objects | Using it with a serious tone in formal situations., Confusing it with 'what is that' which can be seen as more formal. |
| Usage notes | Used when you want clarification about an object or situation. Appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. | Use in informal settings when you want clarification about an object or situation. Avoid in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: What is this vs What's this
What's the difference between What is this and What's this?
What is this: A question asking about the identity of something. What's this: A question asking about something you see or have.
Which is more common: What is this and What's this?
What's this is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
What is this: Excuse me, **what is this** on the table? What's this: When I saw the strange device on the table, I asked, 'What's this?'
Can I use What is this and What's this interchangeably?
Not always. What is this and What'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.