- This term is used as interjection, but mainly as an intialism. instead of trying to make an acronym from these letters, the letters are pronounced.
WTH
interjection question/abbreviation/initialism
What the hell. question.
Etymology : What comes from Old english hwaet, from P. Gmc. khwat, and from proto-indo-european qwod. the is an article which traces back to the old english se from the proto-indo-european so. Hell finally came from old english hel, from P. Gmc. khaljo, old frisian helle, O.N. hel, german Holle, gothic halja, and proto-indo-european kel. (etymonline.com)
Source : "What the hell?" Rice student, Nov. 17, 2010.
Last modified: 12 December 2010