Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

what the hell

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.08 in modern English

Syllables: what the hell
IPA

23

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

1

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

An intensive form of what.

Slang

phrase

Indicating acceptance, indulgence, or insouciance: Why not? Who cares?

Slang

phrase

Rare form of what the hell.

Example Sentences

"What the hell is going on?"
"What the hell is that?!"
"What the hell did you do?"
"What the hell are you?!"
"What the hell do you want?"
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Etymology

Shortened from earlier what in the hell.

Usage

Slang

Inflected Forms

whatthehell (alternative, rare)

Phrases

the hell the hell you say give something a try have nothing to lose

Frequently Paired Words

the hell you say give something a try have nothing to lose

Synonyms

the fuck the hell what on earth what the fuck what the heck what the what may as well might as well what the hey why not

Questions

What does what the hell mean?: An intensive form of what.
Where does what the hell come from?: Shortened from earlier what in the hell.

How to pronounce what the hell

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “what the hell”.
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