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?

---

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

---

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

Former deputy Yaqoob - whose father led the Taliban during its first rule, when music and television were banned - finds himself increasingly popular with young Taliban members and some ordinary Afghans, evident in gushing TikTok videos and merchandise adorned with his face.

From BBC

The line does seem blurry when we’re talking about a construction-company employee who sticks to sales or a car-repair service adviser whose principal tool is a tablet instead of a wrench.

From The Wall Street Journal

He said he decided that those around him had failed him, when in fact he had “made that album in a vacuum,” without asking for input from people whose opinions might have helped him.

From Los Angeles Times

David Ghiyam, a spiritual teacher whose guidance is rooted in Kabbalah, launched David AI this fall, which Ladjevardian said has quickly become the company’s highest-engagement chatbot.

From The Wall Street Journal

The island is one of one of the world’s biggest welfare states, a vast expanse of ice-clad villages whose residents—reachable only by helicopter and propjet—are nonetheless accustomed to the perks of Denmark’s social democracy, from free healthcare to robust schools.

From The Wall Street Journal