# when vs whip

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### when
*adverb · IPA /ˈwɛn/ · frequency rank #48*
At what time? At which time? Upon which occasion or circumstance? Used to introduce direct or indirect questions about time.

### whip
*noun · IPA /ˈwɪp/ · frequency rank #7,085*
A lash; a pliant, flexible instrument, such as a rod (commonly of cane or rattan) or a plaited or braided rope or thong (commonly of leather) used to create a sharp "crack" sound for directing or herding animals.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/when-vs-whip