Introduction

English learners often stumble over the group of interrogative words that begin with “wh.” These words—who, what, when, where, why, and which—are essential for forming questions and gathering information. This article presents a clear list of wh words, explains their uses, and offers practical tips to help students master them. Whether you’re a teacher, a parent, or a self‑learner, you’ll find useful strategies and resources to support your learning journey.

What Are Wh Words?

Wh words are a subset of interrogative pronouns and adverbs that start with the letters “wh.” They serve as question starters that request specific information. In English, each wh word has a distinct function:

Common Wh Words

Below is a concise list of the most frequently used wh words. While many of these words overlap in meaning, each has a primary context in which it shines.

  1. Who – Person or people (e.g., “Who is at the door?”)
  2. What – Object, thing, or action (e.g., “What did you eat?”)
  3. When – Time or occasion (e.g., “When will you arrive?”)
  4. Where – Location (e.g., “Where did you find the book?”)
  5. Why – Reason or motive (e.g., “Why did you choose that color?”)
  6. Which – Selection from a defined set (e.g., “Which route is faster?”)
  7. Whom – Formal object pronoun (e.g., “Whom did you invite?”)
  8. Whose – Possessive form (e.g., “Whose jacket is this?”)
  9. Whichever – Any one of several options (e.g., “Whichever book you pick will be fine.”)
  10. Whichever – Any one of several options (e.g., “Whichever book you pick will be fine.”)

How to Use Wh Words in Questions

Using wh words correctly involves matching the word to the type of information you need. Below are guidelines for constructing questions with each wh word.

Who

Use who when asking about the subject of a sentence or a person performing an action.

What

Use what for objects