wagwan

English

Etymology

Jamaican Patois origin. From Jamaican English "wah gwan" (lit. "what go on"), a modified form of Standard English "what's going on".

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /wɑːˈɡwɑːn/
Rhymes: -ɑːn
audio (file)

Interjection

wagwan

(Jamaican creole, MLE, MTE) Greeting equivalent to what's up or what's happening.

Usage notes

It is used throughout the Jamaican diaspora, including in hip-hop culture and by reggae music fans. The standard response is nagwan / nuttin nah gwaan (“nothing is going on”).

Alternative forms

whagwan, wha' gwan, wha gwan, wagwarn, what's gwan, whatagwan

References

Peckham, Aaron (2007). Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined, Page 223.

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