Meanings
phrasewhat do you want?
- informalIndicates that the listener is paying attention to the speaker, and wishes to know why they were approached or interrupted.
Synonyms: what, what is it, yeah, yes
- informalA rude greeting, implying that the speaker does not wish to engage in formalities.
Synonyms & antonyms
phraseIndicates that the listener is paying attention to the speaker, and wishes to know why they were approached or interrupted.
Similar
Translations
Chinese Cantonese 咩呀？
- 咩呀？to indicate that the listener is paying attention
Finnish mitä nyt?, mitä haluat?
- mitä nyt?to indicate that the listener is paying attention
- mitä haluat?to indicate that the listener is paying attention
Japanese なんでしょう?
- なんでしょう? (nandeshō?)to indicate that the listener is paying attention
Malay kamu mau apa?
- kamu mau apa?to indicate that the listener is paying attention
Cite this entry
APA
what do you want. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what%20do%20you%20want
MLA
“what do you want.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what%20do%20you%20want. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “what do you want,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/what%20do%20you%20want.
Source: what do you want on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.