Who

Definition

Who refers to a pronoun used to ask questions about or refer to a person or people, typically functioning as the subject of a clause.

Parts of Speech

• Pronoun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /huː/
• Respelling: HOO

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /huː/
• Respelling: HOO

Etymology

The word "who" originates from Old English "hwā," meaning "who, anyone," derived from Proto-Germanic "*hwaz," and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European "*kwo-," meaning "who" or "what."

Derivatives

• Whoever (pronoun)
• Whom (pronoun)
• Whose (pronoun)
• Whosoever (pronoun, archaic)
• Who’s (contraction of "who is" or "who has")

Synonyms

• Whom
• What person
• None

Antonyms

• None

Usage

The pronoun "who" is commonly used to inquire about a person, as in "Who is calling?" It is also used in relative clauses to refer to people, as in "The person who helped me was very kind."

Related Terms

• Whom: A pronoun used as the object of a verb or preposition.
• Whose: A possessive form of "who."
• What: A pronoun used to ask questions about things or actions.

Detailed Definitions

Pronoun

• Used to ask about the identity of a person: Refers to asking questions related to someone.
  • Example: "Who is at the door?"
• Used in relative clauses to refer to a person: Refers to identifying or describing someone in the context of a clause.
  • Example: "The teacher who inspired me retired last year."
• Used rhetorically or emphatically: Refers to emphasizing a person or their actions.
  • Example: "Who would have thought this was possible?"