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Learn How to Pronounce what's

Quick Answer: In English, what's is pronounced /wɒts/ (UK) or /wʌts/ (US).
(Listen to the audio above for the stress and intonation)

The Expert's Take

Dr. Franz Lang
"I was watching the British detective series "Broadchurch" and was struck by how often the characters used this contraction, even in moments of high tension. The actor David Tennant's delivery of "What's happened?" with that specific Scottish-English elision, always stuck with me. It's a tiny linguistic window into character and region, showing how informal speech permeates even serious drama."
By Dr. Franz Lang

Meaning and Context

"What's" is a fundamental contraction in the English language, seamlessly combining the interrogative pronoun "what" with either the verb "is" or the auxiliary verb "has." This linguistic shortcut is ubiquitous in everyday communication, serving as a cornerstone for forming concise questions and statements such as "What's the matter?" or "What's he done?" Its prevalence in informal writing, dialogue, and even semi-formal digital correspondence makes it a key element for achieving natural, fluid speech patterns. Understanding the proper usage of "what's" and similar English contractions is essential for mastering informal English grammar, improving spoken English fluency, and enhancing overall English language learning. While it streamlines conversation, writers must be mindful of context, as its appropriateness diminishes in highly formal or academic prose where the full forms "what is" or "what has" are preferred.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary spelling of this contraction is universally accepted as "what's," with the apostrophe correctly placed between the "t" and the "s" to indicate the omission of letters. Common errors and typos include writing "whats" (omitting the necessary apostrophe entirely), which is grammatically incorrect and often flagged by spellcheckers. Another frequent mistake is the misuse of the apostrophe, such as in "what's'" with an extra apostrophe or "whats'" incorrectly attempting to show possession. It is also occasionally confused with the similar-sounding contraction "where's" (where is). In fast digital communication, a typo like "whays" or "whsts" may occur due to keyboard slip, but these are not recognized variant spellings.

Example Sentences

"What's for dinner?" she called from the living room.

In reviewing the project timeline, the manager asked, "What's been the biggest delay so far?" You'll often hear the phrase "What's up?" as a casual greeting among friends.

Before making a decision, it's wise to consider what's at stake.

In the sentence "What's he got in his hand?" the contraction stands for "what has."

The author mused, "What's the point of a story without a compelling conflict?"

Sources and References

To master the contraction "what's," I used the clear audio examples on Forvo. I also studied the phonetic notation on Wiktionary. The best resource for understanding its fluid pronunciation in everyday speech was YouGlish, where I listened to thousands of instances in various accents and contexts, from casual conversation to formal presentations.

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