How To Pronounce “what's”

what's

function word

Strong form

Used when emphasised or contrasted.

Phonemic

/wɒts/

Phonetic

[wɒts]

e.g. I said what's, not who's.

/aɪ.sedˈwɒts.nɒt.huːz/

Phonemic

/wʌts/

e.g. I said what's, not who's.

/aɪ.sedˈwʌts.nɑːt.huːz/

Weak form

Used in connected speech.

Phonemic

/wəts/

Phonetic

[wəts]

e.g. What's your name?

/wəts.jəˈneɪm/

Phonemic

/wəts/

e.g. What's your name?

/wəts.jɚˈneɪm/

“what's” is a function word, so it has more than one pronunciation. In normal connected speech the weak form is usual. The strong form is used when the word is stressed, said on its own or at the end of a phrase.

Strong form. In British English it is /wɒts/, and in American English it is /wʌts/. It is used when emphasised or contrasted.

Weak form. In British English it is /wəts/, and in American English it is /wəts/. It is used in connected speech.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.

Questions About What's

How do you pronounce what's in British English?

Strong form, /wɒts/. Weak form, /wəts/.

How do you pronounce what's in American English?

Strong form, /wʌts/. Weak form, /wəts/.

What is the weak form of what's?

The weak form of what's is /wəts/ in British English. It is the usual form in connected speech.

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