Wah gwaan
casual, everyday
In Jamaican Patois the usual hello is Wah gwaan, short for "what is going on". Friends also say Yow, and Hello is understood by everyone.
Meaning: greeting in Jamaican Patois (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Jamaican | Note |
|---|---|
| Wah gwaan | casual, everyday |
| Yow | casual, slang |
| Hello | neutral |
Wah gwaan works as a greeting and a question, so you can say it to anyone you know and get an answer like Mi deh yah, "I am here".
How do you pronounce it?
Say Wah gwaan close to "wah GWAHN". The g in gwaan is clearly pronounced.
When do people say it?
Patois is the everyday language of Jamaica, while English is the official language used at school and in business.
Did you know?
- The word irie, meaning good or fine, spread worldwide through reggae music.
Examples in context
- Wah gwaan, mi bredda?What is going on, my brother?
- Yow, mi deh yah.Hey, I am here.
- Wah gwaan, everyting irie?What is going on, everything good?
Example conversation
Marcus meets his friend Delroy outside a shop in Kingston.
- MarcusWah gwaan, Delroy?What is going on, Delroy?
- DelroyMi deh yah, yuh?I am fine, and you?
- MarcusEveryting irie.Everything is good.
