what the hell

== English == === Alternative forms === whatthehell, what the Hell (rare) === Etymology === Shortened from earlier what in the hell. === Pronunciation === === Phrase === what the hell (mildly vulgar, slang) An intensive form of what. (mildly vulgar, slang) Indicating acceptance, indulgence, or insouciance: Why not? Who cares? ==== Usage notes ==== Thought to be more vulgar in the US and Philippines whilst less vulgar in the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Although most intensive additions to question words (e.g. the hell, the fuck, on earth, etc.) are semantically interchangeable, most of them cannot replace what the hell in indicating acceptance, indulgence, or insouciance (sense 2 above). For example, what the fuck cannot usually have this meaning (but see sense 2 of what the fuck). However, what the heck can. ==== Synonyms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== the hell ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ====