wah gwaan
/ˈwɑː ˈɡwɑ̃/
The English phrase "hi, how are you" is translated into Jamaican as wah gwaan.
Wah gwaan is a casual greeting used to ask someone how they are doing or to ask what is going on.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase wah gwaan literally translates to "what is going on".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Wah gwaan is an informal greeting and is not suitable for use in formal or professional settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Negril, you may commonly hear the informal greeting Wha gwaan, mi dear?
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈwɑː ˈɡwɑ̃/
When do people say it?
When someone asks wah gwaan, common responses include mi deh yah, which literally means "I am here" but functions as "I am doing well" or "I am okay" or everything criss, meaning everything is fine or good. Other informal ways to greet or check on someone include Waah gwaan, mi man?, Hey, wh'appen? (where wh'appen is a contraction of "what's happening") or Yow, everything criss? to ask if things are alright.
Did you know?
- The phrase wah gwaan is actually a phonetic evolution of the English words 'what' and 'going on'.
- Jamaican Patois greetings often blend English words with West African linguistic structures and rhythms.
- The response everything criss uses the word 'criss' to mean 'excellent' or 'fine', a term that sounds like it describes a shape rather than a state of being.
Examples in context
- Wah gwaan, my friend?Hi, how are you, my friend?
- Wah gwaan, man?Hi, how are you, man?
Example conversation
Andre meets Tanesha on a busy street.
- AndreWah gwaan, Tanesha?Hi, how are you, Tanesha?
- TaneshaMi deh yah, everything cool.I am here, everything is cool.
- AndreDat good fi hear.That is good to hear.
- TaneshaYeah, wah gwaan wid you?Yeah, how are you doing?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry wah gwaan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gwaan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
