What is "wagwan" ? Meaning & Origin

5 Answers

Wagwan means "What's going on?" It's a colloquialization of that phrase!

Why "Wagwan?"


Over the years the common question "What's going on?" has been colloquialized into "What's up?" and then to "sup?" You'll mainly hear this from Americans where their accent has produced that colloquialization. "Wagwan?" is the Jamaican equivalent. Check out Barack Obama using it! at 0:25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vucnSelKio.

When to use it? Exactly when you say "What's going on?" or "Hey, how are you?


It is an informal greeting so use it as such!

"Wagwan brother!?"


This greeting is used in context of an accent (Jamaican) So you can practice your accent before you say it!

P.s. Be aware, some people may think you are joking about their accent, so do it in a tactful manner.

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wagwan

or wah gwan or wat a gwaan [wah-gwon] or [wahd uh gwon]


Is a way to say What’s going on? in Jamaican English


It is used throughout the Jamaican diaspora especially in certain pockets of south and east London.

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Wagwan is a way to say what's going on


I never know wagwan on the Bachelorette


wagwan is used in jamaica also in south and east london

many people use wagwan in their sentences many people know the term to be slang


its either a question or statement

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Wagwan is a way to say What’s going on? What's up?


Area

Jamaican English renders the greeting


Ex. Wagwan bro?


WHO USES WAGWAN?

It is synonymous with casual greetings like What’s up? or What’s happening?

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2022/11/29

Wagwan is a way to say "What's going on?" It originated from Jamaican English, which was used throughout the Jamaican diaspora, especially in South London. In Toronto, Canada, it is most commonly referred to as Toronto slang.

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