What's the difference Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈhwəts/, /ˈwəts/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈdɪfɝəns/, /ˈdɪfɹəns

WUHTS thuh DIF-er-uhns

UK

wɒts/ /ðə, ði/ /dˈɪfɹəns

WOTS thuh DIF-ruhns

Definition

A phrase used to ask how two or more things are not the same or to find out what changes exist between them.

Usage & Nuances

Very common and informal. Used to compare things or question the importance of a difference. Can be followed by 'between X and Y' or be used alone. Sometimes used rhetorically to suggest two things are similar.

• Spanish: ¿cuál es la diferencia?
• Portuguese (BR): qual é a diferença?
• Portuguese (PT): qual é a diferença?
• Chinese (Simplified): 有什么区别？
• Chinese (Traditional): 有什麼不同？
• Hindi: क्या फर्क है?
• Arabic: ما الفرق؟
• Bengali: পার্থক্য কী - ফারাক কী
• Russian: в чём разница - какая разница
• Japanese: 何が違うの - 何が違いますか
• Vietnamese: khác nhau ở điểm nào - sự khác biệt là gì
• Korean: 무슨 차이야 - 뭐가 달라
• Turkish: farkı ne - ne farkı var
• Urdu: فرق کیا ہے
• Indonesian: apa bedanya - apa perbedaannya

Example Sentences

What's the difference between tea and coffee?

basic

What's the difference if we go now or later?

basic

What's the difference between a cat and a dog?

basic

Honestly, what's the difference? They look the same to me.

natural

You always ask me, 'What's the difference?' Try figuring it out this time!

natural

She said, 'What's the difference—it's all the same in the end.'

natural