[Vocabulary] What should I say when someone ask me “What’s Up”.

[lena.nils]

What should I say when someone ask me “What’s Up”.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Whatever is "up".

 

[Raymott]

Same as you would reply if someone said, "What's going on?"
You can say "Nothing much, what about with you?" and pass the ball back to the first speaker.

 

[bhaisahab]

If someone said "What's up?" to me, I would say "Nothing, I'm fine" or something similar.

 

[V.Predoev]

Not a teacher.

It is the colloquial way if being asked How do you do? So an answer such as: I am fine. What's up with you? is perfecty adequate.

 

[bhaisahab]

Not a teacher.

It is the colloquial way if being asked How do you do? So an answer such as: I am fine. What's up with you? is perfecty adequate.

To me, it's a colloquial way to say "What's wrong?".

 

[V.Predoev]

Not a teacher

Bhaisahab I have never had such underlying contex when saying this nor have sensed someone meaning this. Does it have such connotation at all?

 

[bhaisahab]

Not a teacher

Bhaisahab I have never had such underlying contex when saying this nor have sensed someone meaning this. Does it have such connotation at all?

I am British, I am 64 years old. I teach English. I think I know how to speak the language.;-)

 

[BobK]

Not a teacher

Bhaisahab I have never had such underlying contex when saying this nor have sensed someone meaning this. Does it have such connotation at all?

I am British, I am 64 years old. I teach English. I think I know how to speak the language.;-)

I think there's a culture clash here. To me and bhai and anyone over about 35 'What's up?' really means 'What's going on?' - that is, it's used after a course of events that are not immediately comprehensible, or if somebody's mood seems bad: 'You're not normally like this. What's up?'

To younger people (my 30-yr-old son is the oldest I know) it's an all-purpose informal greeting. This is presumably the only sort of 'Whassup?' that V.Predoev has met. Students should be aware that this second meaning is very informal - though give it another 20 years or so and I wouldn't be surprised if it had entered the mainstream. (However, my capacity for feeling surprise at the age of 83 may be in some doubt. ;-)).

b

 

[V.Predoev]

Not a teacher

Dear elders, especially bhaisahab, I was just curious about its meaning. To me it has always meant "wassup" or "how are you". Just a very informal greeting as was mentioned. If someone looks upset or worried in my mind will never pop up the phrase "What's up?". Instead I will ask What is going on? Or Is there something wrong? Maybe it is really a culture clash.

 

[lena.nils]

Thank you for your reply. I'm a new imigrant in canada. I'm confused about many english usages.