Meaning
An informal greeting meaning 'What's happening?' or 'How are you?' used among friends, peers, or in relaxed environments.
Primary Function
Casual greeting / conversation opener
Communicative Purpose
To quickly establish a friendly tone without formalities.
Pattern
What's up
Core Structure
What's up
Função primária
Casual greeting / conversation opener
Propósito comunicativo
To quickly establish a friendly tone without formalities.
Situações de gatilho
Meeting someone casually (e.g., on the street, at work), starting an online chat, hanging out with acquaintances.
Contextos
Everyday spoken interaction, casual digital messaging (text, social media), informal workplace chats; not suitable for professional settings.
Padrão
What's up
Estrutura central
What's up
Slots de substituição
None
Colocados típicos
- Hey
- Not much
- Just chilling
Substituições comuns
- What’s new?
- What’s going on?
- Sup?
Erros comuns
Using in formal emails, with superiors, or in situations requiring more detail.
Similar / contraste
What's the matter? (shows concern), What are you up to? (asks about activity)
Interferências
May be misinterpreted as an actual inquiry by learners unfamiliar with informal register; avoid over‑generalizing its literal meaning.
Família do chunk
- Ultra-casual openings: Sup?
- What’s good?
- What’s happening?
Nuance
Expect a brief casual reply such as ‘Not much’ or similar; it is not meant for deep conversation starters.
Efeito pragmático
Builds instant informal rapport and signals that the interaction can stay light and friendly.
Dica de memória
hey up
Nota
This chunk is highly informal and should only be used in casual settings with people you know well or in relaxed environments. It is not appropriate for formal or professional contexts.
Upgrade path
What's up? → What's new? → What have you been up to?
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