Dictionary

whatcha en · X

Pronunciation

• /ˈwɒtʃə/ (UK)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈwʌt͡ʃə/ (US)
• /ˈwʌt͡ʃjə/ (US)
• /ˈwɒtʃjə/ (UK)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kʷ- Proto-Indo-European *kʷís Proto-Germanic *hwat Proto-West Germanic *hwat Old English hwæt Middle English what English what English -cha English whatcha From what + -cha.

Meanings

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, contraction) Contraction of what + are + you.
   alt of what
   • Whatcha talking 'bout?
   • There were plenty of ostentatiously noisy walkouts during the last half of Eric De Kuyper's Naughty Boys (Netherlands), which is understandable. On the other hand, I loved the film and found it continually fascinating, so whatcha gonna do? 1986 February 1, Nicholas Deutsch, “7th Annual New York Gay Film Festival”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 28, page 8:
   • Whatcha doin'?
   • Whatcha sayin'?
2. (abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, contraction) Contraction of what + have + you.
   alt of what
   • Whatcha been up to?
3. (abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, contraction) Contraction of what + do + you.
   alt of what
   • Whatcha got there?
   • Whatcha wanna do now?
   • Whatcha think?
4. (abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, contraction) Contraction of what + you.
   alt of what
   • Do whatcha gotta do!
   • 'Tain't whatcha do, it's the way thatcha do it.
   • If you’re lookin’ but not seein’, here’s whatcha do 1973 July, Toledo Hanson, “How to Be a Happy Spectator”, in Pete Szilagyi, editor, Motocross Action Magazine, Encino, Calif.: Hi-Torque Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 38, column 1:

Forms

Deriveds

whatchacallit