Street
gwaan
What does gwaan mean?
Literally 'go on' or 'go along'; frequently used in the greeting 'wa gwaan' and in phrases like 'gwaan good' (go well).
"Just gwaan wid yuh work, mi soon come."
Origin
Jamaican Patois contraction of 'going on'. Spread into UK Multicultural London English (MLE) and global slang via reggae, dancehall, and grime.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'gwaan' mean?
It's Patois for 'going on' — used to ask what's happening or to tell someone to go ahead.
What does 'wah gwaan' mean?
It literally means 'what's going on' and works as a casual Jamaican greeting like 'what's up'.
How do you reply to 'wah gwaan'?
You can reply with 'nuttin much', 'everyting cool', or 'just deh deh' (just here).
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
