Do you know how to use the word “whatsoever” when you are in native, natural, and fast-paced conversations?
In today’s episode you’ll find out where and when to insert this word to connect with the person you are speaking with and to convey a more specific meaning in your sentence.
Hi, Lindsay, Hi Michelle!
I’m Eduardo from Monterrey Mexico. First of all, thank you very much for responding my last question about swear words and how to avoid them and replace them for other expressions. Besides, the episode was out a day before my birthday, so it felt like a birthday present. 🙂 Now I have another question. In a couple of tv shows I heard the word “Whatsoever”. If I remember well in both cases the word was used with an air of irony or sarcasm in the sentence. I thought it was a really cool word and I felt very likely to use it once in a while in my conversations. By searching a little bit more about the word, I came across with this definition that says it is an “archaic” and “old fashioned word” Is that so? What other words I could use instead?
Thank you so very much in advance!!!
Eduardo
Great question!
This is the kind of word that will push you to the next level.
It will help you CONNECT.
Everyone listening to this podcast should be looking for these kinds of words to add to their vocabulary.
First of all, what does it mean?
Let’s go to the Cambridge Dictionary:
Dictionary: adverb- used after a negative phrase to add emphasis to the idea that is being expressed
Example: “He has no respect for authority whatsoever.”
Is it archaic?
Not in this form as an adverb.
In this way it just means you are taking the statement to an extreme.
However, therse is another way that it has been used in the past and yes, that way is considered archaic now.
The archaic way of using it was using it is to mean “whatever.”
For example, “He would distribute the money among his partners in whatsoever proportion agreed previously.”- Cambridge Dictionary
We don’t use it like that anymore but we do use it to make a negative sentence more extreme.
What’s the differece between these two phrases:
A: Do you have any resources for this project
B: I have no resources.
And
A: Do you have any resources?
B: No. None whatsoever.
It makes it sound more dire and more extreme. You are putting some feeling behind your statement.
It’s like saying: “Not at all” or “absolutely not” instead of just saying “no.”
Sometimes this extreme way of speaking might be used from teachers to students or from parents to children when they discipline the child.
