Meaning of What's the matter
A question asking about someone's problems or concerns.
In simple words: What's wrong or what's the problem?
What's the matter in a sentence
- When I saw her crying, I asked, 'What's the matter?'
- He looked upset, so I gently asked, 'What's the matter?'
- When he didn't show up, I texted him, 'What's the matter?'
- During the meeting, it was clear something was wrong; I asked, 'What's the matter?'
- Seeing my friend pale and quiet, I couldn't help but ask, 'What's the matter?'
How to use What's the matter
Use this phrase to ask someone about their issues or discomfort. Suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but avoid in very casual situations.
Grammar pattern
standalone greeting
Memory hint
Think of 'matter' as 'matters of the heart' - asking if something is troubling someone.

Related words
Collocations with What's the matter
- What's the problem
- What's the issue
- What's wrong
Synonyms for What's the matter
- What's wrong?
- What's the problem?
- Is something bothering you?
- Are you okay?
Common mistakes with What's the matter
- 'What's the matter' is often confused with 'What's up' which is more casual.
- Some learners forget to use it only when someone looks upset or unwell.
- Confused with 'What's wrong?' which is more direct and sometimes impolite.
Compare What's the matter with What's wrong, What's the problem, Are you okay
What's the matter appears in
What's the matter in other languages
- Arabicالعربية
ما الأمر؟
ما الخطب أو ما المشكلة؟
- Bengaliবাংলা
কী ব্যাপার
কী হয়েছে বা সমস্যাটা কী?
- GermanDeutsch
Was ist los
Was ist falsch oder was ist das Problem?
- SpanishEspañol
¿Qué pasa? / ¿Qué te pasa?
¿Qué te pasa o cuál es el problema?
- Persianفارسی
چی شده؟
چی شده یا مشکل چیه؟
- FrenchFrançais
Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas
Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ou quel est le problème ?
- Hindiहिन्दी
क्या बात है
क्या हुआ है या क्या समस्या है?
- ItalianItaliano
Cosa c'è che non va
Cosa c'è che non va o qual è il problema?
- PortuguesePortuguês
Qual é o problema?
O que está errado ou qual é o problema?
- RussianРусский
Что случилось? / В чем дело?
Что не так или в чем проблема?
- Urduاردو
کیا بات ہے
کیا مسئلہ ہے یا کیا غلط ہے؟
- Chinese中文
怎么了
怎么了?或者有什么问题?
More chunks like What's the matter
- What's wrong
- What's the problem
- Are you okay
A question to ask if someone is feeling fine.
- OperationB1
the process of cutting open a part of a person’s body in order to remove or repair a damaged part
- How we liking that
A casual way to ask for opinions or feelings about something.
- We never used that before
A statement indicating an item or method was not previously utilized.
People also search for
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Frequently asked questions about What's the matter
What does What's the matter mean?
What's wrong or what's the problem?
What is the definition of What's the matter?
A question asking about someone's problems or concerns.
How do you use What's the matter in a sentence?
When I saw her crying, I asked, 'What's the matter?'
Can you give another example of What's the matter?
He looked upset, so I gently asked, 'What's the matter?'
What are synonyms for What's the matter?
Common alternatives include What's wrong?, What's the problem?, Is something bothering you?, Are you okay?.
What words go with What's the matter?
It commonly pairs with What's the problem, What's the issue, What's wrong.
What are common mistakes when using What's the matter?
'What's the matter' is often confused with 'What's up' which is more casual. Some learners forget to use it only when someone looks upset or unwell. Confused with 'What's wrong?' which is more direct and sometimes impolite.
How do you pronounce What's the matter?
US: //wɑts ðə ˈmætər//, UK: //wɒts ðə ˈmætə//. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.
When should I use What's the matter?
Use this phrase to ask someone about their issues or discomfort. Suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but avoid in very casual situations.








