# whatever

> English word · Noun · IPA /ʍɒtˈɛv.ə/ · frequency rank #759

## Definitions
1. A thing or person whose actual name is unknown or forgotten.

## Etymology
From Middle English whatever. By surface analysis, what + ever.

## Easily confused with
- **whoever** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whatever-vs-whoever)
- **whenever** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whatever-vs-whenever)
- **wherever** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whatever-vs-wherever)
- **whomever** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whatever-vs-whomever)
- **whatsoever** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whatever-vs-whatsoever)
- **whatever's** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whatever-vs-whatever-s)

## Common misspellings (12)
`hwatever`, `wahtever`, `whaetver`, `whateevr`, `whateverr`, `whatevre`, `whatevver`, `whattever`, `whatveer`, `whhatever`, `whtaever`, `wwhatever`

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