Wah gwaan
Also spelled: wagwan, wha gwaan, whagwan, wah gwan
Meaning
The everyday Jamaican greeting, literally "what's going on?" It works as both a genuine question and a casual hello, in the same way English speakers use "what's up?" without always expecting an answer.
Examples
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“Wah gwaan, mi bredda?”
What's going on, my brother?
Standard friendly greeting between men who know each other.
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“Wah gwaan wid yuh today?”
What's going on with you today?
Here it is a real question rather than a passing hello.
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“Mi seh wah gwaan, but him never answer.”
I said what's up, but he never answered.
Origin
A contraction of English "what" and "going on", reshaped by Jamaican phonology: the 't' in "what" is dropped and "going on" collapses into a single stressed syllable, gwaan.
How it's used
The most widely recognised Patois phrase outside Jamaica, largely through dancehall and the diaspora in London, Toronto and New York. A common reply is "mi deh yah" (I'm here / I'm alright). Casual — use with friends and peers rather than elders or formal settings.