What's what Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈhwəts/, /ˈwəts/ /ˈhwət/, /ˈwət

WUHTS WUHT

UK

wɒts/ /wˈɒt

WOTS WOT

Definition

Used to describe the important facts or details about a situation, or to identify what is truly important or real. If you know what's what, you understand the true situation.

Usage & Nuances

Informal. Often used to say someone understands the real facts or has experience. Can be used for both knowledge of people or things. Usually in sentences like 'He knows what's what' or 'Let me show you what's what.' Not literal—refers to importance, not just identifying things.

• Spanish: qué es qué - lo que es importante - lo que cuenta
• Portuguese (BR): o que é o que - o que importa - o essencial
• Portuguese (PT): o que é o quê - o que importa - o essencial
• Chinese (Simplified): 什么是怎么回事 - 重要的东西
• Chinese (Traditional): 什麼是怎麼回事 - 重要的東西
• Hindi: क्या क्या है - असली चीज़ कौन सी है
• Arabic: ما هو المهم - ما هو ما
• Bengali: কীটি কী - আসল বিষয় (বুঝা যাওয়া)
• Russian: что к чему - расклад (неформально)
• Japanese: 何が何か - 大事なこと（がわかる）
• Vietnamese: điều gì là quan trọng - tình hình thực sự
• Korean: 뭐가 뭔지 - 중요한 것
• Turkish: ne nedir
• Urdu: کیا کیا ہے - اصل حقیقت
• Indonesian: mana yang penting - situasi sebenarnya

Example Sentences

He really knows what's what in the company.

basic

After a week at school, I finally understood what's what.

basic

Let me show you what's what around here.

basic

If you want advice, talk to Sarah—she knows what's what.

natural

It took me a while to figure out what's what in that complicated system.

natural

New people often get confused until someone explains what's what to them.

natural