whose

American  

[hooz] / huz /

pronoun

1. (the possessive case of who used as an adjective).

   Whose umbrella did I take? Whose is this one?

2. (the possessive case of which used as an adjective).

   a word whose meaning escapes me; an animal whose fur changes color.

3. the one or ones belonging to what person or persons.

   Whose painting won the third prize?

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whose British  

/ huːz /

determiner

1. 1. of whom? belonging to whom? used in direct and indirect questions

      I told him whose fault it was

      whose car is this?

   2. ( as pronoun )

      whose is that?

2. of whom; belonging to whom; of which; belonging to which: used as a relative pronoun

   a house whose windows are broken

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Usage

Sometimes the phrase of which is used as the possessive of which: Chicago is a city of which the attractions are many or Chicago is a city the attractions of which are many. The use of this phrase can often seem awkward or pretentious, whereas whose sounds more idiomatic: Chicago is a city whose attractions are many.

Etymology

Origin of whose

First recorded before 900; Middle English whos, early Middle English hwās; replacing hwas, Old English hwæs, genitive of interrogative pronoun hwā who

Example Sentences

And speaking less could lead to a decline in the cognitive chess game that is conversation, especially for infants whose mothers are speaking to them less.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

Helping animals in wartime is also extremely risky, says Nate Mook, whose Hachiko Foundation provides veterinary treatment and pet food and has 150 feeding stations for homeless animals along the front line.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

Warsh, 56, a former Fed governor and successful investor, is President Donald Trump’s nominee to become the 17th chair of the Fed, replacing current Chair Jerome Powell, whose term ends on May 15.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

For “Over Your Dead Body,” he teams with producer David Leitch, whose 87North shingle specializes in R-rated action-comedies like “Nobody” and “Violent Night.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Nobody whose mind has done as much work as mine has trying to ignore that ending in favor of one that would have been more just.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse