Street
wha gwaan
What does wha gwaan mean?
A casual Jamaican greeting meaning 'what's going on' or 'what's up'.
"Wha gwaan, you good?"
Origin
Jamaican Patois, a contraction of 'what is going on'. Globally recognized after Barack Obama greeted Jamaica with 'wha gwaan, Jamaica' in 2015.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'wha gwaan' mean?
It's a Jamaican greeting meaning 'what's going on', used like 'what's up'.
How do you respond to 'wha gwaan'?
Reply with something like 'nuttin much', 'everyting irie', or 'mi deh yah' (I'm here).
How is 'wha gwaan' spelled?
It's spelled many ways including wah gwaan, wa gwan, and whagwan, since Patois has no fixed standard spelling.
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