wagwan

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Jamaican Creole wah gwan (literally “what go on”), a modified form of English what's going on.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wɑːˈɡwɑːn/
• Rhymes: -ɑːn

• Audio:

  (file)

Interjection

wagwan

1. (Jamaica, MLE, MTE, slang) A greeting, equivalent to what's up or what's happening.
   • 2024 June 3, “Wah Gwan Delilah” (3:32 from the start)‎^[1]performed by Snowd4y ft. Drake:

     Wah gwan, Sabrina, what's it like in Mississauga? / I know you stay at home wit' momma / So can you bless me with a dollar? Don't be rude

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.

Further reading

• “wagwan, int.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.