"what kind of" vs "which kind of"

Question

"what kind of" vs "which kind of"

Both "which kind of" and "what kind of" are correct and commonly used in English. They are interchangeable in many contexts, but there are subtle differences in usage. "Which kind of" implies a selection from a specific set of options, while "what kind of" is more general and open-ended.

Last Updated: March 30, 2024

Use "what kind of" when you are asking about a general or open-ended category without specific options in mind.

Examples:

What kind of music do you like?
What kind of person is she?

Alternatives:

which type of
which sort of
which kind of

Use "which kind of" when you are asking about a specific selection from a known set of options.

Examples:

Which kind of ice cream do you prefer?
Which kind of car should I buy?

Alternatives:

what type of
what sort of
what kind of

Answer 1

what kind of

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

which kind of

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"what kind of" vs "which kind of"

what kind of

which kind of

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