What does “What's up?” mean?
"What's up?" means a friendly greeting asking someone how they are and what is happening.
What context can I use the in?
Example
Hey, what's up? Long time no see!
Example
I bumped into my friend on the street and asked him, 'what's up?'
Example
I received a text from my sister asking me, 'what's up with you?
Is “What's up?” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?
“What's up?” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.
How would I use “What's up?” effectively in context?
You can use "What's up?" as a friendly and informal way to greet someone and ask how they are doing. It's often used to initiate a conversation or catch up with someone. For example, if you see a friend you haven't seen in a while, you might say, 'Hey, "what's up"? Long time no see!'
- 1Meeting a Friend
I bumped into my friend on the street and asked him, 'What's up?'
- 2Receiving a Text
I received a text from my sister asking me, 'What's up with you?'
- 3Casual Conversation
Hey, what's up? How was your weekend?
Similar phrases to “What's up?”:
What's new?
A question asking for updates or recent developments.
Example
I met my friend at a coffee shop and asked him, 'What's new?'
How's it going?
A casual greeting asking about someone's overall situation or progress.
Example
I ran into my colleague in the hallway and asked her, 'How's it going?'
Good things to know:
Where does the phrase “What's up?” come from?
The origin of the phrase "What's up?" is unknown. It has been commonly used in informal conversations as a casual greeting for many years.
Is “What's up?” common in everyday conversation?
"What's up?" is an extremely common expression in everyday conversation. It is widely used among friends, family, and acquaintances to greet each other and start a conversation.
What tone does “What's up?” have?
"What's up?" conveys a casual and friendly tone. It is often used in a relaxed setting to initiate a conversation and show interest in the other person's well-being.
Can “What's up?” be used in informal and formal settings?
"What's up?" is an informal expression that is commonly used in casual settings. It is not typically used in formal situations such as business meetings or professional correspondence.
Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?
"What's up?" can be used by itself as a standalone phrase. It is often used as a greeting or an opening line in a conversation. For example, you can simply say, '"What's up?"' when you meet someone or receive a phone call.
