How Do You Spell WHOM?

Pronunciation: [hˈuːm] (IPA)

Correct spelling for the English word "Whom" is [hˈuːm], [hˈuːm], [h_ˈuː_m] (IPA phonetic alphabet).

Meaning and Definition
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Etymology
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WHOM Meaning and Definition

  1. Whom is a pronoun used in the English language to refer to the object or indirect object of a verb or a preposition in a sentence. It is the accusative and dative form of who. Whom is typically used when a person is the object of a verb or preposition and is not preceded by a preposition itself.

    Whom is often employed to ask about the person that an action is done to or for. For example, "To whom did you give the letter?" or "From whom did he receive the gift?" In these cases, whom is used to indicate the recipient of the action.

    In formal and standard written English, particularly in more traditional contexts, whom is used more frequently than in everyday conversational language. However, in spoken English, the use of whom has declined, and it is often replaced by who, especially in more informal settings. This has made whom less widely used and sometimes considered archaic or overly formal by some speakers.

    It is important to note that whom can also function as the subject of a verb, though this usage is less common. In these cases, whom is typically used in more formal or specialized contexts, such as legal or academic writing.

    Overall, whom is a pronoun that is used to refer to the object or indirect object of a verb or preposition, indicating the person to whom an action is done or for whom it is done.

  2. Case of who.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for WHOM *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for WHOM

Etymology of WHOM

The word "whom" derives from the Old English word "hwām", which was the dative form of the pronoun "hwā" meaning "who". Both "hwām" and "hwā" can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic root "*hwam", which also gave rise to similar pronouns in other Germanic languages. Ultimately, its origins can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*kʷos", meaning "who". Over time, "hwām" evolved into "whom" in Middle English, retaining its role as the objective form of "who" in interrogative sentences and relative clauses.

Idioms with the word WHOM

  • those whom the gods love die young The idiom "those whom the gods love die young" implies that individuals who are extraordinary or beloved often have shorter life spans. It suggests that those who possess exceptional qualities or talents may be taken away from the world prematurely, as if fate favors them so greatly that they are not destined to live a long life.
  • to whom it may concern The idiom "to whom it may concern" is a phrase used to address an unknown recipient or to refer to a broad group of people. It is commonly used in formal or business correspondence when the specific recipient's name or identity is not known or when the message is intended for anyone who may be interested or relevant.
  • Whom the gods love die young The idiom "Whom the gods love die young" refers to the belief or notion that people who are loved or favored by the gods tend to have shorter lives. It implies that those who are highly esteemed may meet an untimely demise, often at a young age. This phrase is often used to express the idea that talent, brilliance, or virtuous qualities in individuals can lead to an early death, leaving others to mourn their loss.
  • With whom do you wish to speak?

Similar spelling words for WHOM

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Correct spelling for Whom
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