wagwan
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English
Etymology
Borrowed from Jamaican Creole wah gwan (literally “wha’ goi’ on”), a modified form of English what's going on.
Pronunciation
Interjection
wagwan
- (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)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
References
- Peckham, Aaron (2007). Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined, page 223.
Further reading
- “wagwan, int.”, in OED Online
, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
