wagwan
/ˈwɒɡwɒn/
CommonA greeting meaning 'what's going on?' or 'what's up?'
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | wagwan everyone long time no post | Greeting followers after being absent from social media. | instagram, 2023 |
| 02 | wagwan g you good? | Greeting a friend and asking how they are. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | wagwan with the new menu prices | What is going on with these new prices, expressing surprise or complaint. | x, 2024 |
| 04 | first video back wagwan | Greeting the audience at the start of a return video. | youtube, 2023 |
Use it when
- Greeting a friend in a casual British or Caribbean-influenced context.
- Starting a conversation or checking in with someone.
Do not use it when
- Any formal setting.
Variations and related forms
Origin and context
From Jamaican patois, a contraction of 'what's going on'. Became part of Multicultural London English through the UK's Caribbean diaspora and spread through grime and road culture.
- First seen
- 1990s
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/wagwanUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0