wagwan
English
Etymology
Jamaican Patois or Jamaican English origin. A contraction of "what is going on".
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /wɑːˈɡwɑːn/
Interjection
wagwan
- (Jamaica, MLE) Greeting equivalent to what's up or what's happening.
Usage notes
- It is used through out 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”).
- It symbolises a progression of modern language as it is used in many English dialects, for example, in England (especially the South/South Eastern areas such as London) it is starting to be used as a common greeting, rather than a mockery of the Jamaican dialect.
Alternative forms
- wha gwan, wagwarn
References
- Peckham, Aaron (2007). Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined, Page 223.