wha

Wha is a regional English word, especially associated with Scots and northern English dialects, that normally means “who.” It is used in questions such as “Wha did you say?” and is closely related to the standard form “who.” In some dialect contexts, wha can also mean “what,” particularly in constructions where the question asks for the identity or nature of something rather than a person. The word has an informal, familiar quality and is not normally used in formal or broadly standard English, although it appears in dialect writing, Scottish literature, and speech intended to convey local character. Its pronunciation varies somewhat by speaker and locality, but it is commonly represented as /hwɑː/. The contracted form “wha's” is also widely understood in Scottish usage, often meaning “what is” or “what has.” Although “who” is the usual modern word, wha preserves a distinctive regional form of English and remains an important part of Scots vocabulary.

A chiefly Scots and northern English dialect pronoun meaning “who,” especially in questions. In some dialect usage, it can also mean “what.”

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Etymology of wha

Wha is a Scots and northern English development of the English interrogative pronoun “who,” ultimately associated with Old English hwā. Its form reflects regional pronunciation and usage rather than a separate basic lexical root. It belongs to the same wider interrogative family as “who,” “whom,” “whose,” and “what,” although “wha” is now chiefly a regional form.

Related word forms

How wha is actually used

Wha is regional and informal in modern English, chiefly associated with Scots and northern English dialects. Its use can signal regional identity or a deliberate, literary, or conversational Scottish voice. The contraction “wha's” is common for “what is” or “what has,” depending on context.

Easily confused with wha

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Words and phrases paired with wha