What does “What’s up?” mean?
The phrase "What's up?" means 'How are you?' or 'How's it going?' It is a casual greeting often used in informal conversations. When someone says "What's up?", they are asking about the other person's well-being or current situation. It is a way to initiate a conversation and show interest in the other person's life.
How is the expression used in real life?
Example
What's up? Haven't seen you in a while.
Example
Hey, what's up? How was your weekend?
Example
I bumped into John yesterday and asked him what's up?
What context can I use each expression in?
- 1Greeting and asking about someone's well-being
What's up? Haven't seen you in a while.
Hey, what's up? How was your weekend?
- 2Casually asking about recent events or news
I bumped into John yesterday and asked him what's up?
What's up? Anything interesting happening?
- 3Starting a conversation or checking in with someone
What's up? How's everything going?
Just calling to say what's up?
Good things to know:
What is the origin of the phrase?
The phrase "What's up?" originated in the United States and has become widely used in English-speaking regions. It is believed to have originated in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and gained popularity through hip-hop culture and urban communities.
Can the phrase be used on its own?
While "What's up?" is typically used as a greeting and followed by additional conversation, it can also be used on its own as a casual way to ask how someone is doing or what is happening.
Is the phrase offensive?
"What's up?" is not offensive. It is a common and casual greeting used to ask how someone is doing or what is happening.
Audience for the phrase
"What's up?" is commonly used by people of all ages and backgrounds in casual and informal settings. It is especially popular among younger generations and in social situations.
Is the phrase specific to an accent or country?
"What's up?" is widely used in the United States and has become a common greeting in English-speaking regions. However, it is also understood and used in other parts of the world due to its widespread popularity in movies, music, and online communication.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- how are you
- how's it going
- what's happening
- what's new
- what's happening
Antonyms
- what's wrong
- what's the matter
- what's the issue
- what's the problem
- what's troubling
