Wah gwaan
/ˈwɑː ˈɡwɑ̃/
In Jamaican, 'how are you?' is expressed as Wah gwaan.
Wah gwaan is an informal greeting used to ask someone how they are doing. It can function as a casual 'hello' or as a genuine question about a person's well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Wah gwaan is a contraction of 'What is going on?'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Wah gwaan is an informal expression and is not appropriate for use in highly formal or professional settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Western Jamaica, the phrase Ow yuh stay? is used to ask 'How are you?'
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 okay' or Everything criss, meaning 'Everything is fine'.
Did you know?
- Depending on the tone, Wah gwaan can be used not just as a greeting but as a way to ask 'What is the problem?' during a confrontation.
- The response Mi deh yah literally means 'I am here', implying that despite any hardships, the speaker has survived and is still present.
- Jamaican Patois often uses 'zero copula', which is why Wah gwaan omits the verb 'is' that you would find in the English 'What is going on?'
Examples in context
- Wah gwaan, my friend?How are you, my friend?
- Wah gwaan with the new job?How are you doing with the new job?
- Wah gwaan, everything cool?How are you, is everything cool?
Example conversation
Ricardo and Shanti meet on a busy street in Kingston.
- RicardoWah gwaan, Shanti!How are you, Shanti!
- ShantiEverything bless, Ricardo. Wah gwaan wid you?Everything is good, Ricardo. How are you?
- RicardoMi deh yah, yuh know.I'm hanging in there, you know.
- ShantiThat's good to hear.That's good to hear.
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry wah gwaan.
