Who

/hu/

Meaning & Definition

pronoun
Used to introduce a clause that provides more information about a person or people.
The teacher, who loves science, encouraged us to ask questions.
Used to ask about the identity of a person or people.
Who is coming to the party tonight?
Used to refer to a particular person or group previously mentioned.
She is the one who won the election.
Used to express a particular characteristic of a person or group.
He is someone who is always willing to help.
Used in questions to inquire about someone’s name.
Do you know who that lady is?

Etymology

Old English 'hwā', related to other Germanic languages.

Common Phrases and Expressions

who's who
A term used to describe a situation in which the identity of people is made clear.
who cares
An expression indicating indifference about a situation.
who done it
A phrase referring to a mystery, often used in the context of detective stories.

Related Words

whom
The objective form of 'who', used when referring to the object of a verb.
whose
A possessive form of 'who', used to ask about ownership.

Slang Meanings

Who's that?
When he saw the new person, he asked, 'Who's that?'
Who’s your daddy?
It's an informal way to boast about superiority or dominance.