# whether

> English word · Conjunction · IPA /ˈwɛðə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #485

## Definitions
1. Introduces a simple indirect question (without a correlative).
2. Indicates doubt between possibilities (usually with correlative or).
3. Introduces a disjunctive adverbial clause qualifying the main clause (with correlative or).
4. Introduces a direct question between alternatives (often with correlative or).

## Etymology
From Middle English whether, whather, from Old English hweþer, hwæþer, from Proto-West Germanic *hwaþar, from Proto-Germanic *hwaþeraz, comparative form of *hwaz (“who”). Cognate with North Frisian weđer (“if, whether”), German weder (“neither”), Swedish var (“each, every”), Icelandic hvor (“each of two, which of two”).

## Easily confused with
- **wither** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whether-vs-wither)
- **wetter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wetter-vs-whether)
- **wether** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wether-vs-whether)
- **weather** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weather-vs-whether)
- **wheeler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wheeler-vs-whether)

## Common misspellings (11)
`hwether`, `wehther`, `whehter`, `whetehr`, `whetherr`, `whethher`, `whethre`, `whetther`, `whhether`, `whteher`, `wwhether`

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