what about en · ADV
Pronunciation
- (Mid-Atlantic, US) audio
Meanings
-
(not-comparable) Used to make a suggestion.
What about going to a restaurant tonight?
-
(not-comparable) Used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered.
Move to another country? What about where we’re going to live?
You're obviously having a good time, but what about me?
‘No,’ said Luke, grinning at her. ‘You're not dull enough! […] What about the kid's clothes? I don't suppose they were anything to write home about, but didn't you keep anything? A bootee or a bit of embroidery or anything at all?’
1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 15, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
-
(not-comparable) Used to repeat a question but referring to a different subject or object.
“Do you like football?” “No.” “What about basketball?”
“Is John coming tomorrow?” “Yes.” “What about David?”
-
(not-comparable) Used to inquire about the purpose of someone introducing a subject to the speaker.
“Do you remember John Smith from work?” “Yeah, what about him?” “Oh, nothing. I just ran into him today.”
-
(not-comparable) Used to express approval of an occurrence or a result.
What about the second goal!
Deriveds
whataboutist · whataboutism · whataboutery
Synonyms
how about (asking for consideration) · what of (asking for consideration) · how about (making a suggestion) · how’s about (making a suggestion)
Translations (85)
ro cum rămâne cu (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · pam o (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · vi còn (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · nl en (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · cmn ...呢 (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · fr quid (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · sv vad är det med ... (used to inquire about the purpose of someone introducing a subject to the speaker) · ru а (used to repeat a question) · pam ing (used to repeat a question) · pt que tal...? (used to make a suggestion) · es qué tiene (used to inquire about the purpose of someone introducing a subject to the speaker) · de was ist mit (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · vi còn (used to repeat a question) · pl no proszę! (used to express approval) · vi còn ... thì sao (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · es (y) qué tal (used to make a suggestion) · pam pakananu (used to make a suggestion) · pt quem sabe…? (used to make a suggestion) · pt e sobre...? (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · es y en cuanto a (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · sv vad sägs om ... (used to make a suggestion) · sv vad sägs om ... ! (used to express approval) · ru как насчёт (used to make a suggestion) · ka იქნებ (used to make a suggestion) · pam makananu (used to make a suggestion) · fi entä (used to repeat a question) · pt e...? (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · de und (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · pam ing (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · da hvad med (used to make a suggestion) · fr quid (used to repeat a question) · fi entä (used to express approval) · fr et (used to repeat a question) · ja は (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · cmn ...怎麼樣 /...怎么样 (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · es qué de/con (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · es y sobre (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · pt e...? (used to repeat a question) · he מָה עִם (used to make a suggestion) · ang hū be (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · ko 는 (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · fr qu'en est-il de (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · da hvad med (used to repeat a question) · pt e quanto a...? (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · yi וואָס איז מיט (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · ca què tal (used to make a suggestion) · pl co powiesz na? (used to make a suggestion) · pam o (used to repeat a question) · cmn ...怎麼樣 /...怎么样 (used to make a suggestion) · ja ...どうですか (used to make a suggestion) · pam kaya (used to make a suggestion) · nl hoe zit het met (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · sv ... då? (used to repeat a question) · ro dacă (used to make a suggestion) · pl a? (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · ja は (used to repeat a question) · nv shąʼ (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · pam kaya (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · ja ...いかがですか (used to make a suggestion) · pam kana (used to make a suggestion) · ro dar (used to repeat a question) · fi entäpä (used to express approval) · ko 는 (used to repeat a question) · ro ce-ar fi dacă (used to make a suggestion) · it se (used to make a suggestion) · da hvad med (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · pam kaya (used to repeat a question) · ru как насчёт (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · it e (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · nl wat zeg je van (used to make a suggestion) · de wie wär's mit (used to make a suggestion) · cmn 呢 (used to repeat a question) · sv ... då? (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · ru а ка́к же (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · pl a? (used to repeat a question) · pl i co w związku z? (used to inquire about the purpose of someone introducing a subject to the speaker) · he מָה לְגַבֵּי (used to make a suggestion) · ko 어때요 (used to make a suggestion) · ky -чи (used to repeat a question) · my ကော (used to repeat a question) · fr et (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · ru а (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · fi entä (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered) · ru что́ е́сли (used to make a suggestion) · zdj e (used to ask someone to consider something or someone that they have apparently not considered)