Tall Tales: Slangs: Ayesha

Wah gwaan: Okay, so this is literally the most famous Jamaican phrase on the planet, and for good reason. It translates directly to “what’s going on,” but you use it exactly like how we say “what’s good,” “what’s up,” or “how are you” over here. It’s the ultimate universal greeting. Whether you’re walking up to your best friend at school, texting someone you haven’t talked to in a while, or just nodding at a stranger on the street, “wah gwaan” is the go-to. It has this super chill, effortless vibe to it that makes you sound instantly cool. Honestly, once you start using it, it’s really hard to go back to saying “hello” because it just feels so boring and formal compared to this.