Wat vs. What: What's the Difference?
By Janet White & Harlon Moss || Updated on May 20, 2024
"Wat" is an informal, often humorous or typographical variation of "what," while "what" is the standard English word used to ask questions or express surprise.
Key Differences
"Wat" is commonly used in internet slang, memes, and casual online conversations. It often conveys confusion or surprise in a humorous or exaggerated manner. This usage is non-standard and typically seen in informal settings. "What," on the other hand, is the proper English word used to ask questions regarding information, identity, nature, or value. It is used universally in both written and spoken English to seek clarification or express curiosity. "What" is appropriate for formal, academic, and everyday use.
"Wat" can be considered a playful variation of "what," often employed to mimic mispronunciation or typographical errors. It lacks the grammatical correctness required in formal writing. For instance, "wat" might appear in a meme caption to emphasize a bewildering or humorous situation.
"What" serves multiple grammatical functions, including interrogative pronoun, adjective, adverb, and exclamation. It can introduce questions, such as "What is your name?" or express surprise, as in "What a beautiful day!" This versatility makes "what" a fundamental part of the English language.
"Wat" is a humorous, informal variant used primarily in internet culture, while "what" is the standard word used for questions and expressions of surprise in all forms of communication.
Comparison Chart
Usage
Informal, humorous, internet slang
Standard English
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Context
Casual, online conversations
Formal, academic, and everyday use
Function
Conveys confusion or surprise
Asks questions, expresses surprise
Grammatical Status
Non-standard
Proper English
Common Examples
"Wat r u doing?"
"What are you doing?"
Wat and What Definitions
Wat
Often seen in memes and humorous contexts.
Wat did I just read?
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What
Interrogative pronoun asking for information.
What is your name?
Wat
Informal variation of "what."
Wat are you talking about?
What
Used to inquire about identity or nature.
What is that object?
Wat
Used in internet slang to express confusion.
Wat is this nonsense?
What
Expresses surprise or disbelief.
What a surprise!
Wat
Typographical error mimicked intentionally.
Wat a crazy idea!
What
Introduces questions about specifics.
What time is it?
Wat
A Buddhist temple in Thailand or Cambodia.
What
Used to seek clarification.
What do you mean?
Wat
A Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia, especially those in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
There are two wats near this village.
Angkor Wat
What
Which one or ones of several or many
What college are you attending? You should know what musical that song is from.
Wat
(cooking) A kind of stew or curry eaten in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
What
Whatever
They soon repaired what damage had been done.
Wat
Alternative spelling of what
What
How great; how astonishing
What a fool!.
Wat
Alternative spelling of what
What
How much; in what respect; how
What does it matter?.
Wat
Alternative spelling of what
What
That
I don't know but what I'll go.
Wat
Conveys exaggerated bewilderment.
Wat! That’s unbelievable!
What
Used to express surprise, incredulity, or other strong and sudden excitement.
What
Chiefly British Used as a tag question, often to solicit agreement.
What
(interrogative) Which, especially which of an open-ended set of possibilities.
What colour are you going to use?
What time is it?
What kind of car is that?
What
(relative) Which; the ... that.
I know what colour I am going to use.
That depends on what answer is received.
What
(relative) Any ... that; all ... that; whatever.
He seems to have lost what sense he had.
What money I earn is soon spent.
What
Emphasises that something is noteworthy or remarkable in quality or degree, in either a good or bad way; may be used in combination with certain other determiners, especially 'a', less often 'some'.
This shows what beauty there is in nature.
You know what nonsense she talks.
I found out what a liar he is.
What
Used to form exclamations.
What nonsense!
Wow! What a speech.
What some lovely weather we've been having!
What beautiful children you have.
With what passion she sings!
What
(interrogative) Which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.
What is your name?
Ask them what they want.
What
(fused relative) That which; those that; the thing(s) that.
He knows what he wants.
What is amazing is his boundless energy.
And, what's even worse, I have to work on Sunday too.
What
(fused relative) Anything that; all that; whatever.
I will do what I can to help you.
What is mine is yours.
What
That; which; who.
'Ere! There's that bloke what I saw earlier!
What
(interrogative) In what way; to what extent.
What does it matter?
What do you care?
What
Used before a prepositional phrase to emphasise that something is taken into consideration as a cause or reason; usually used in combination with 'with' (see what with), and much less commonly with other prepositions.
What
An expression of surprise or disbelief.
What! That’s amazing!
What
What do you want? An abrupt, usually unfriendly enquiry as to what a person desires.
What? I'm busy.
What
Clipping of what do you say? Used as a type of tag question to emphasise a statement and invite agreement, often rhetorically.
It’s a nice day, what?
What
What did you say? I beg your pardon?
— Could I have some of those aarrrrrr mmmm ...
— What?
— What?
What
Indicating a guess or approximation, or a pause to try to recall information.
I must have been, what, about five years old.
What
Something; thing; stuff.
What
(countable) The identity of a thing, as an answer to a question of what.
What
(countable) Something that is addressed by what, as opposed to a person, addressed by who.
What
As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this? what did you say? what poem is this? what child is lost?
What see'st thou in the ground?
What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
What
As an exclamatory word: - (a) Used absolutely or independently; - often with a question following.
What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
What
Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!
What a piece of work is man!
O what a riddle of absurdity!
What
As a relative pronoun
What
Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!
What partial judges are our love and hate!
What
Used substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent to that which, or those [persons] who, or those [things] which; - called a compound relative.
With joy beyond what victory bestows.
I'm thinking Captain Lawton will count the noses of what are left before they see their whaleboats.
What followed was in perfect harmony with this beginning.
I know well . . . how little you will be disposed to criticise what comes to you from me.
What
Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; - used indefinitely.
Whether it were the shortness of his foresight, the strength of his will, . . . or what it was.
What
Used adjectively, equivalent to the . . . which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at, which.
See what natures accompany what colors.
To restrain what power either the devil or any earthly enemy hath to work us woe.
We know what master laid thy keel,What workmen wrought thy ribs of steel.
What
Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; - with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition.
What for lust [pleasure] and what for lore.
Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom shrunk.
The year before he had so used the matter that what by force, what by policy, he had taken from the Christians above thirty small castles.
What time the morn mysterious visions brings.
What
Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.
What
Why? For what purpose? On what account?
What should I tell the answer of the knight.
But what do I stand reckoning upon advantages and gains lost by the misrule and turbulency of the prelates? What do I pick up so thriftily their scatterings and diminishings of the meaner subject?
What
Something; thing; stuff.
And gave him for to feed,Such homely what as serves the simple lown.
FAQs
Can I use "wat" in formal writing?
No, "wat" should not be used in formal writing; use "what" instead.
What is "wat"?
"Wat" is an informal, humorous variation of "what," used primarily in internet slang.
Is "wat" correct English?
No, "wat" is not considered correct English; it is a playful or typographical variation.
Where is "wat" commonly used?
"Wat" is commonly used in casual, online conversations, and memes.
What is "what"?
"What" is a standard English word used to ask questions or express surprise.
How is "what" used in a sentence?
"What" is used to ask questions, such as "What time is the meeting?"
Is "wat" a recent slang term?
Yes, "wat" gained popularity with the rise of internet culture and memes.
Is "wat" recognized in dictionaries?
"Wat" is not recognized in standard dictionaries as a proper word.
Can "what" express emotions?
Yes, "what" can express emotions like surprise or disbelief, e.g., "What a beautiful day!"
Is "wat" ever capitalized?
It can be, especially in memes, e.g., "WAT IS HAPPENING?"
Can "wat" be used to ask questions?
Informally, yes, but it is not grammatically correct.
Why do people use "wat"?
People use "wat" for humorous effect or to mimic mispronunciation.
Is "wat" an acronym?
No, "wat" is not an acronym; it is a variation of "what."
How did "wat" originate?
"Wat" originated as a typographical error and became popular in online slang.
Does "wat" have any formal meaning?
No, "wat" does not have a formal meaning or use in standard English.
Is "what" used in both written and spoken English?
Yes, "what" is used in all forms of communication.
Does "wat" have regional usage?
"Wat" is used globally in internet culture but is not region-specific.
Can "what" be used in exclamations?
Yes, such as "What a wonderful world!"
Are "wat" and "what" interchangeable?
No, "wat" is informal and humorous, while "what" is standard and proper.
Can "what" be used to ask for repetition?
Yes, "What did you say?" is a common use.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Co-written by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
