Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

whatever

/wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.14 in modern English

Syllables: what-ev-er
IPA: /wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/

17

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A thing or person whose actual name is unknown or forgotten.

Slang

det

What ever; emphatic form of 'what'.

det

Regardless of the ... that; for any ... that.

det

Any ... that; of no matter what type or kind that.

det

Any; of no matter what type or kind.

pron

What ever; emphasised form of 'what', used to ask which thing, event, circumstance, etc.

pron

Regardless of anything that.

pron

Anything that; all that.

Example Sentences

"As far as I'm concerned Alec is dead. Whatever they've got in there, that...whatever."
"Good heavens! Whatever time is it?!"
"Whatever your choice, there will be consequences."
"I will stick with you, whatever fate befalls us."
"Whatever doubts I had were quickly dispelled."
"Write down whatever thoughts come into your mind."

Etymology

From Middle English whatever. By surface analysis, what + -ever.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: whatever

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/
British English: /ʍɒtˈɛv.ə/

Usage

Inflected Forms

whatevers (plural) more whatever (comparative) most whatever (superlative)

Derived Forms

whateverism whateverist whateverness whatsoever

Phrases

Two Whatevers whatever helps you sleep at night whatever next whatever the case may be whatever you do what-so-ever whatever butters your biscuit whatever butters your biscuits

Frequently Paired Words

whatever butters your biscuit whatever butters your biscuits whatever butters your bread whatever butters your muffin whatever butters your toast whatever creams your twinkie whatever floats your boat whatever humps your camel

Synonyms

whatev whevs what the fuck ever whatever you say whoopee do if you say so meh so what

Rhymes With

never ever however forever whenever whoever wherever clever whatsoever trevor whichever lever

Questions

How do you pronounce whatever?: The recorded pronunciation is /wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/.
What does whatever mean?: A thing or person whose actual name is unknown or forgotten.
Where does whatever come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce whatever

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “whatever”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “whatever”.
Repeat and practice — Say “whatever” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.