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

1. (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.