# wat

Pronunciation: say "WAT" US /wæ(ː)t/, UK /wat/

## Pronoun

1. Informal alternative spelling of what, used in texting and online. *(colloquial)* — Alternative spelling of what.
   - Simple: Alternative spelling of what. It is a casual way to write the word in texts and online chats.
   - _Wat? I couldn't hear you over the traffic._
   - _He asked me wat I had done with the keys._

## Noun

Pronunciation: US say "WAHT" /wɑt/; UK say "WOT" /wɒt/

2. A Southeast Asian temple devoted to Buddhist worship, especially one in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia.
   - Simple: A Buddhist temple in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia.
   - _Pilgrims gathered at the wat to offer flowers and incense._
   - _Cambodia's countryside is dotted with ancient wats._
3. A stew or curry that is a common dish in the cooking of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
   - Simple: A thick stew or curry from Ethiopia and Eritrea.
   - _The restaurant's lamb wat arrived bubbling hot, ladled over injera._
   - _Cooks across the region prepare different wats for festive meals._

## Determiner

4. Informal alternative spelling of what, used in texting and online. *(colloquial)* — Alternative spelling of what.
   - Simple: Alternative spelling of what. Use it before a noun in casual writing online.
   - _Wat kind of music do you usually listen to?_
   - _I forgot wat day the meeting was moved to._

## Adverb

5. Informal alternative spelling of what, used in texting and online. *(colloquial)* — Alternative spelling of what.
   - Simple: Informal spelling of what, used online. Often in the phrase 'wat with' to give a reason.
   - _Wat with the holidays approaching, the shops were packed._
   - _We barely slept, wat with the neighbors' party next door._

## Origin

**Meaning 2** — Borrowed from Thai วัด (wát).
**Meaning 3** — Borrowed from Amharic ወጥ (wäṭ).
**Meanings 1, 4–5** — A variation of "what," used for humorous effect.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/wat (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).