What's it mean or What does it mean?

This is a rare case in which "does" is contracted to "'s", and it's only OK in spoken, informal English.

Correct Usage: "What does it mean?"

Full Form: "What does it mean?" is the correct and standard way to ask for the meaning of something.

Structure: This phrase uses the auxiliary verb "does," which is necessary to form a proper question in English. The structure follows the Subject-Verb-Object order typical of English questions.

Example:

✔️ Correct: "What does it mean when someone says 'break a leg'?"

✔️ Correct: "What does this word mean?"

Incorrect Usage: "What's it mean?"

Explanation: "What's it mean?" is a contracted form of "What does it mean?" However, in standard English, this contraction is not grammatically correct when forming a question. "What's" typically contracts "what is" or "what has," but not "what does."

Example:

❌ Incorrect: "What's it mean when someone says 'break a leg'?"

Why "What Does it Mean?" is Correct

In English, when forming questions in the present tense, we often use an auxiliary (helping) verb like "do" or "does." The auxiliary verb "does" is used with singular subjects like "it" to form a question.

Structure: "What" (question word) + "does" (auxiliary verb) + "it" (subject) + "mean" (main verb).

Example:

➡️ Statement: "It means something."

➡️ Question: "What does it mean?"

Common Errors

Using "What's it mean?": This is a common mistake in casual speech but is not correct in formal or written English.

Dropping the Auxiliary Verb: In casual conversation, some people might drop the "does" (e.g., "What it mean?"), but this is incorrect in standard English.

FAQ

Is "What's it mean?" ever correct?

No, "What's it mean?" is not correct in standard English. The correct form is "What does it mean?"

Can I use "What's" in any questions?

Yes, but only when "what's" is short for "what is" or "what has." For example, "What's happening?" (short for "What is happening?").

Why do people say "What's it mean?"

It’s often used in casual or informal speech, but it’s not grammatically correct.

What’s the difference between "What's it mean?" and "What does it mean?"

"What does it mean?" is correct English, while "What's it mean?" is an incorrect contraction.

Should I avoid saying "What's it mean?"

Yes, especially in formal writing or speech. Use "What does it mean?" to be grammatically correct.

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