Interjection
- (Jamaica, MLE) Greeting equivalent to what’s up or what’s happening.
Usage notes
- It is used through out the Jamaican diaspora, including members of the hip-hop culture and reggae music fans. The standard response is nagwan (“nothing is going on”).
- It symbolises a progression of modern language as it is used in many English dialects, for example, in England (especially the South/South Eastern areas such as London) it is starting to be used as a common greeting, rather than a mockery of the Jamaican dialect.
Origin
Jamaican Patois or Jamaican English origin. A contraction of “what is going on”.