wagwan
wagwan is a Jamaican phrase used to ask someone how they are or what is happening.
wagwan is an informal abbreviation of "What's going on?" used to ask how someone is or what they are up to.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a contraction of the phrase "what is going on".
Which one should you use?
wah gwaan is another way to write wagwan. Additionally, Whappen? is an alternative greeting with a similar meaning to wagwan.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Wagwan is a highly informal greeting used primarily among peers and in casual settings.
When do people say it?
A common response to wagwan is everything criss, meaning everything is fine or good. If nothing much is happening, a person might respond with nutten nah gwan.
Did you know?
- The phrase has traveled far beyond Jamaica, becoming a staple of Multicultural London English (MLE) in the United Kingdom and influencing much of the slang used in British Grime and Drill music.
- In Jamaica, the response everything criss uses the word criss, which is a local adaptation of the English word 'crisp' to mean sharp, clean or perfect.
- Using wagwan with a superior or in a professional Jamaican setting can be seen as a sign of disrespect rather than just being casual.
Examples in context
- Wagwan, mi link!Wagwan, my friend!
- Wagwan, everything good?Wagwan, is everything good?
Example conversation
Two friends meeting on a busy street in Kingston.
- LatoyaWagwan, Kevon!Wagwan, Kevon!
- KevonEverything irie, Latoya. How yuh stay?Everything is good, Latoya. How are you?
- LatoyaMi deh yah, yuh know.I'm doing okay, you know.
- KevonBless up.Blessings.
