Whose Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/huːz/ 🔊

Part of Speech

pronoun

Definition

A possessive pronoun used to indicate something belongs to or is associated with a person or thing, often preceded by a noun or determiner.

Examples

• Whose book is this?
• This is whose closet?

Synonyms

• who’s
• whosever

Antonyms

• no one’s
• every one’s

Etymology

The word ‘Whose’ is derived from the Old English word ‘hwi’, meaning ‘who’ or ‘which’, and has evolved to take its current form in Modern English.

Usage Notes

‘Whose’ is often used to frame questions or make statements about possession, association, or identity. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

Cultural References

‘Whose’ is commonly used in popular culture, such as in literature, film, and music. For example, the phrase “Whose Generation?” is used frequently in contemporary music and social media.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

‘Whose’ is often used in idiomatic expressions like “Whose turn is it?” or “Whose idea was this?”.

Related Words or Phrases

Related words or phrases include ‘who’, ‘whosever’, and ‘whose turn it is’.

Collocations

‘Whose’ often collocates with words like ‘book’, ‘car’, ‘closet’, and ‘idea’.

Frequency of Use

‘Whose’ is a relatively common word in Modern English, often appearing in everyday conversations and written texts.

Common Misspellings

Common misspellings of ‘Whose’ include ‘whosee’, ‘whos’, and ‘who’s’.