Meaning and usage guide
who vs whom
Meaning, usage, pronunciation, and examples
Who is normally the subject of a clause, like he or she. Whom is an object, like him or her, especially after a preposition in formal English.
Reference accent
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How to choose
Find the word’s job inside its own clause
Ignore word order for a moment and rebuild the answer with he or him to reveal subject versus object.
Subject: who
Use who when the person performs the verb in the clause.
Who sent the message? He sent it.
Object: whom
Use whom when the verb or a preposition acts on the person.
Whom did you invite? You invited him.
Modern conversation
Who is usual as an object in informal speech; whom remains common after a fronted preposition and in formal prose.
Who are you speaking to? / To whom are you speaking?
Direct answer
What is the difference?
Use who for the person doing the action and whom for the person receiving it. The he/him test helps: if he fits, choose who; if him fits, choose whom. In informal speech, who frequently replaces whom except directly after a preposition, so “Who did you call?” is standard conversation even though “Whom did you call?” is more formal.
American English
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Word 1
who
interrogative or relative pronoun
Used for a person who is the subject of a verb or clause.
US pronunciation
/huː/
UK IPA
/huː/
Hear three samples
How to pronounce it
Begin with a breathy H and hold the OO vowel. The written W is silent.
Word 2
whom
interrogative or relative pronoun
Used for a person who is the object of a verb or preposition.
US pronunciation
/huːm/
UK IPA
/huːm/
Hear three samples
How to pronounce it
Say who and close your lips for a clear final M. That last consonant is the only sound difference.
Listen in context
6 example sentences
Context makes meaning, grammar, and natural rhythm easier to understand. Every sentence has its own playback.
Examples with
who
- Who is leading the meeting?
- She is the engineer who designed the bridge.
- Do you know who called?
Examples with
whom
- Whom should I contact about the invoice?
- To whom did you send the package?
- The candidate whom we interviewed accepted the role.
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