“what’s

The term “what’s” is a fundamental contraction in the English language, serving as a linguistic bridge that streamlines communication by merging the interrogative pronoun 'what' with either the third-person singular present tense of the verb 'to be' (is) or the third-person singular present tense of the auxiliary verb 'to have' (has). This contraction is not merely a shortcut; it is a hallmark of natural, fluent English, particularly in spoken and informal written contexts. When used to represent 'what is,' it typically functions to inquire about the identity, nature, or status of something. For instance, in the ubiquitous greeting “What’s up?” the contraction facilitates a casual tone that 'What is up?' would fail to convey, as the latter sounds overly formal or even robotic in a social setting. Conversely, when 'what’s' represents 'what has,' it is used to form the present perfect tense, indicating an action that occurred at an unspecified time in the past or has continuing relevance to the present. An example would be, “What’s been happening lately?” where 'what’s' stands for 'what has.' Understanding the dual nature of this contraction is crucial for learners because the grammatical context—specifically the words following the contraction—dictates which underlying verb is being used. If followed by an adjective, noun, or present participle (-ing), it is usually 'is.' If followed by a past participle (often ending in -ed or irregular forms like 'been' or 'done'), it is usually 'has.'

Grammatical Function

A contraction merging 'what' with 'is' or 'has' to facilitate smoother speech flow.

Historically, the use of contractions like 'what’s' grew out of the natural tendency of English speakers to reduce unstressed vowels in rapid speech. In the case of 'is' and 'has,' the initial vowel sounds (/ɪ/ and /hæ/) are often dropped, leaving only the sibilant /z/ or /s/ sound to attach to the preceding word. This process, known as elision, is a key component of English phonology. While 'what’s' is ubiquitous in conversation, its use in formal academic or legal writing is generally discouraged, as full forms are preferred to maintain a tone of precision and objectivity. However, in modern digital communication—emails, text messages, and social media—'what’s' is the standard, and failing to use it can make a writer seem stiff or non-native. Furthermore, 'what’s' can also appear in exclamatory sentences, such as “What’s a beautiful day!” though this is less common than its interrogative use. The versatility of 'what’s' makes it one of the most frequently used strings of characters in the English corpus, appearing in everything from high literature to the most casual street slang.

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Informal to Neutral; common in spoken English and casual writing.

In addition to its structural role, 'what’s' carries significant pragmatic weight. It often signals the beginning of an inquiry that seeks to establish common ground or gather essential information. In professional settings, 'what’s' might be used in a brainstorming session (“What’s the best way to approach this?”) to foster a collaborative and less rigid atmosphere. In educational contexts, teachers use it to check for understanding (“What’s the main idea of this paragraph?”). The contraction also plays a role in idiomatic expressions that define English culture, such as “What’s the catch?” (meaning: what is the hidden drawback?) or “What’s the big deal?” (meaning: why is this important?). These phrases rely on the contraction for their rhythmic punch; saying 'What is the big deal?' changes the emphasis and can make the speaker sound genuinely confused rather than dismissive. Thus, mastering 'what’s' involves not just knowing the grammar, but feeling the rhythm of the language.

Phonetic Note

The 's' is pronounced as /s/ because it follows the voiceless /t/ sound in 'what'.

Using “what’s” correctly requires an understanding of sentence structure and the specific roles of 'is' and 'has.' The most common application is in direct questions. When 'what’s' functions as 'what is,' it often precedes a noun phrase or an adjective. For example, in the sentence “What’s the time?” the contraction 'what’s' identifies the subject of the inquiry (the time). This structure is the backbone of basic English interaction. It is also used in indirect questions or noun clauses, such as “I don’t know what’s wrong.” Here, 'what’s' is part of a subordinate clause that functions as the object of the verb 'know.' This usage is slightly more complex as it requires the learner to maintain the contraction even when the sentence is not a direct question. In terms of word order, 'what’s' always appears at the beginning of the clause it introduces, maintaining its role as the primary interrogative element.

Structure: What + Is

Used for identification, descriptions, and current states. (e.g., What's that noise?)

When 'what’s' represents 'what has,' the sentence structure typically involves the present perfect tense. This means the contraction will be followed by a past participle. For example, “What’s happened to your car?” translates to 'What has happened to your car?' This usage is common when asking about recent events or changes. It is important to note that 'what’s' cannot be used for 'what has' when 'has' is the main verb indicating possession in American English; one would not say “What’s he in his hand?” instead of 'What does he have in his hand?' However, in British English, you might occasionally hear “What’s he got?” where 'what’s' is 'what has' and 'got' is the past participle. This distinction is a subtle but important nuance for advanced learners. Furthermore, 'what’s' can be used in the passive voice, such as “What’s being built over there?” where 'what’s' is 'what is' and 'being built' is the present continuous passive.

Structure: What + Has

Used for the present perfect tense, usually followed by 'been' or a past participle. (e.g., What's been done?)

Another interesting use of 'what’s' is in the construction “what’s more,” which acts as a conjunctive adverbial phrase meaning 'furthermore' or 'in addition.' For example, “The hotel was expensive; what’s more, the service was terrible.” In this context, 'what’s' is always 'what is,' and the phrase is used to add a more important or surprising point to what has already been said. This demonstrates how 'what’s' has been fossilized into specific rhetorical devices. Additionally, 'what’s' is used in rhetorical questions where the speaker doesn't necessarily expect an answer, but is making a point, such as “What’s the use of complaining?” This versatility across different sentence types—interrogative, exclamatory, and additive—makes 'what’s' an indispensable tool for any English speaker. Learners should practice transitioning between these uses to improve their conversational fluidity and writing style.

Exclamatory Use

Used to express surprise or emphasis. (e.g., What's a relief!)

The contraction “what’s” is an omnipresent feature of the English auditory landscape. You will hear it in virtually every environment where English is spoken, from the bustling streets of New York to the quiet cafes of London. In casual conversation, it is the default way to ask for information. Friends greeting each other will almost always use “What’s up?” or “What’s new?” rather than the full forms. This is because contractions are a primary way English speakers signal informality and social proximity. In the workplace, 'what’s' is used during meetings to clarify points: “What’s the deadline for this project?” or “What’s the budget looking like?” In these contexts, the contraction helps maintain a professional yet accessible tone, preventing the speaker from sounding overly stiff or bureaucratic. It is also a staple of media and entertainment; movie dialogue, song lyrics, and television scripts are saturated with 'what’s' because it mimics the way real people talk.

Daily Life

Used in greetings, time-checks, and general inquiries about the environment.

In the realm of pop culture, 'what’s' has been immortalized in numerous famous lines. Consider the catchphrase of the iconic cartoon character Bugs Bunny: “What’s up, Doc?” This phrase alone has made the contraction globally recognizable. In music, 'what’s' often appears in titles and lyrics to create a relatable, conversational feel. Marvin Gaye’s legendary song “What’s Going On” uses the contraction to pose a profound social question in a way that feels intimate and urgent. Similarly, 4 Non Blondes' hit “What’s Up?” uses the contraction to express a sense of existential searching. In these cases, using 'What is' would destroy the meter and the emotional resonance of the lyrics. News broadcasts also frequently use 'what’s' in their headlines or lead-ins to grab attention: “What’s driving the stock market today?” This usage makes the news feel more immediate and relevant to the viewer’s daily life.

Media & News

Common in headlines and interview questions to create a sense of immediacy.

In educational settings, you will hear 'what’s' used by both teachers and students. A teacher might ask, “What’s the answer to question five?” while a student might ask a peer, “What’s the homework for tonight?” This shows that the contraction is appropriate across different levels of social hierarchy within a semi-formal environment. Even in customer service, 'what’s' is frequently heard: “What’s the name on the reservation?” or “What’s your phone number, please?” Using the contraction here makes the interaction feel more helpful and less like an interrogation. Interestingly, in different dialects of English, the pronunciation of 'what’s' might vary slightly, but the contraction itself remains a constant. Whether it's the 'What's crackin'?' of West Coast slang or the 'What's the craic?' of Irish English, the core contraction 'what’s' serves as the foundation for a myriad of cultural expressions.

Professional Use

Used in collaborative environments to ask for data or opinions efficiently.

Despite its simplicity, the contraction “what’s” is a frequent source of errors for both English learners and native speakers. The most common mistake is confusing 'what’s' with 'whats.' The latter, 'whats,' is not a standard word in English; the apostrophe is mandatory because it indicates the omission of letters ('i' in 'is' or 'ha' in 'has'). Writing 'whats' instead of 'what’s' is a significant orthographic error that can make a writer appear careless. Another frequent mistake involves using 'what’s' to mean 'what was' or 'what does.' While 'what’s' is a valid contraction for 'what is' and 'what has,' it cannot represent 'what was' or 'what does.' For example, one should never say “What’s he do for a living?” when they mean 'What does he do?' or “What’s the weather like yesterday?” when they mean 'What was the weather like?' These errors stem from a misunderstanding of which auxiliary verbs can be contracted with 'what.'

Mistake: Missing Apostrophe

Writing 'whats' instead of 'what's'. The apostrophe is essential for the contraction.

Another subtle error occurs in formal writing. Many students mistakenly believe that 'what’s' is acceptable in all forms of writing. However, in academic essays, formal reports, or legal documents, contractions are generally avoided. Using 'what’s' in a thesis statement or a formal business letter can undermine the professional tone of the document. Learners should be taught to expand 'what’s' to 'what is' or 'what has' in these specific contexts. Furthermore, there is often confusion when 'what’s' is used in sentences where 'has' is the main verb of possession. In American English, 'what’s' is almost never used to mean 'what has' in the sense of owning something. You would say “What does he have?” rather than “What’s he?” The latter would be interpreted as 'What is he?' (asking about his profession or nature), leading to significant communication breakdowns.

Mistake: Tense Confusion

Using 'what's' for 'what was' or 'what does'. These verbs do not contract this way.

Lastly, learners sometimes struggle with the pronunciation of 'what’s' when it is followed by a word starting with a similar sound. For instance, in “What’s some good advice?” the 's' at the end of 'what’s' and the 's' at the beginning of 'some' can blend together, making the contraction hard to hear. This can lead to the mistake of omitting the contraction entirely in speech, which makes the speaker sound less fluent. Conversely, over-emphasizing the 's' can make the speech sound forced. The key is a light, quick sibilant sound that transitions smoothly into the next word. Additionally, some learners confuse 'what’s' with 'which is.' While they are similar, 'what’s' is used for an open-ended range of possibilities, while 'which is' is used when choosing from a limited set. Misusing these can lead to grammatical awkwardness, though it is usually understood in context.

Mistake: Formal Overuse

Using 'what's' in highly formal academic or legal contexts where 'what is' is required.

While “what’s” is incredibly common, there are several alternatives and similar words that speakers use depending on the level of formality and the specific meaning they wish to convey. The most obvious alternative is the expanded form, “what is” or “what has.” These are used for emphasis or in formal writing. For example, instead of “What’s the problem?” one might say “What IS the problem?” to express frustration or a need for immediate clarity. Another similar contraction is “which’s,” though this is far less common and often considered non-standard or dialectal; usually, speakers will say 'which is' in full. Understanding when to use 'what’s' versus 'which is' is key: 'what’s' is for general inquiries, while 'which is' refers to a specific choice among known options.

Alternative: What is / What has

The full forms used for emphasis, formal writing, or when the speaker wants to slow down the pace of the sentence.

In very informal or slang contexts, 'what’s' can be replaced by even more reduced forms. In African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and some Caribbean dialects, the 's' might be dropped entirely in certain structures, or the whole phrase might be replaced by “Whatcha,” as in “Whatcha doing?” (What are you doing?). While 'whatcha' is a contraction of 'what are you,' it occupies a similar functional space as 'what’s' in casual conversation. Another alternative in specific contexts is “whatever,” which can sometimes replace 'what’s' in a relative clause to add a sense of indifference or lack of specificity: “Whatever’s in the box is yours” (What is in the box is yours). This adds a layer of meaning that 'what’s' alone does not provide.

Alternative: Whatever's

A contraction of 'whatever is', used to mean 'anything that is' or to show indifference.

For learners, it is also useful to compare 'what’s' with other interrogative contractions like “who’s” (who is/has), “where’s” (where is/has), and “how’s” (how is/has). These all follow the same pattern of elision and serve similar roles in streamlining questions. However, 'what’s' remains the most versatile due to the broad nature of the word 'what.' In some dialects, particularly in the Southern United States, you might hear “what-all,” which is used to ask for a comprehensive list: “What-all’s in that stew?” This combines 'what,' 'all,' and 'is' into a unique regional construction. Understanding these variations helps a learner navigate different English-speaking environments with greater ease and cultural awareness.

Comparison: What's vs. Who's

'What's' refers to things, ideas, or actions; 'Who's' refers to people.