How
How is an interrogative adverb in the English language used to inquire about the manner, method, condition, quality, or degree of an action, event, or state, as in questions like "How did it happen?" or "How are you?"[1][2]
It functions within interrogative structures to seek explanations of process or extent, distinguishing it from other interrogative adverbs such as when, where, and why, which address time, place, and reason, respectively.[3][4]
The word originates from Old English hū, an interrogative pronoun or adverb derived from Proto-Germanic *hwō, akin to cognates in Old Saxon hwo, Dutch hoe, and German wie, reflecting its ancient Indo-European roots in questioning form or means.[5][6]
Beyond its core interrogative role, "how" appears in idiomatic expressions like "how about" for suggestions and has influenced compounds such as "know-how" denoting practical knowledge or skill.[1][6]