The everyday Jamaican hello is wah gwaan?, literally "what's going on?", used the way English speakers say "hey, what's up?". The standard reply is mi deh yah, "I'm here", meaning "I'm doing all right". For more polite situations, such as elders, strangers, customers and customer service, Jamaicans use time-of-day greetings: mawnin (good morning) and evenin (good evening).
Casual greetings
Wah gwaan?
Pronounced "wah GWAAN". Use it with friends, peers, family members your own age, and anyone you're on easy terms with.
Wah gwaan, mi bredda?
What's up, my brother?
You'll see it spelled many ways: wah gwaan, wha gwaan, wagwan, whagwan. The meaning is the same. In London and Toronto, wagwan is common well beyond the Jamaican community.
Wha appen?
Wha appen ("what's happening?") is an equally friendly alternative, with the h dropped from "happen".
Weh yuh a seh? / Wah yuh a seh?
Literally "what are you saying?", used as a casual "what's up?" or "what's new?" (see wah yuh a seh). It's not a request to repeat yourself.
Everyting criss? Yuh alright?
Check-in questions that work as greetings: everyting criss? ("everything good?") and Yuh alright? ("are you OK?").
Long time mi nuh see yuh
For someone you haven't seen in a while:
Long time mi nuh see yuh!
I haven't seen you in a long time!
How to reply
| Reply | Meaning | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Mi deh yah | I'm here, I'm OK, holding on | The classic reply |
| Mi good / Mi alright | I'm good | Neutral |
| Everyting criss / Everyting irie | Everything's good | Upbeat |
| Yeah man (ya mon) | Yes, all good | Relaxed |
| Blessings | All is well, bless you | Warm |
It's natural to return the question: Mi deh yah. Wah gwaan wid yuh? ("I'm OK. What's up with you?").
Polite greetings: morning and evening
For anyone older than you, anyone you don't know, and anyone you're about to ask for something, use the time-of-day greeting:
- Mawnin ("good morning"): Mawnin, Miss Cherry! The app also teaches it as Mawning!
- Evenin ("good evening"): often used from the afternoon onward, not only after dark.
Add a title for respect: Miss or Mister plus a first name, or Aunty, Granny or Boss as the situation suits. Calling an older woman Aunty isn't a claim to be related; it's ordinary respect.
Warm, spiritual and Rasta greetings
- Bless up: a greeting and a blessing in one, used on arrival or when leaving.
- Blessings: "best wishes", as hello or goodbye.
- Respect: a nod of acknowledgment as a greeting, and also a thank-you.
- Yes I: a Rasta greeting. Using it outside Rasta circles can sound like borrowing an identity, so it's better to recognize than to use.
- Big up: "big up yuhself!" is more of a shout-out than a greeting, used when you're pleased to see someone.
Greeting etiquette
In Jamaica, greeting people first is basic good manners. Walking into a shop, a bus, a waiting room or someone's yard and launching straight into business, without a mawnin or evenin, can come across as rude, especially to older people. Respect for elders runs deep, and a proper greeting is the easiest way to show it.
- Greet before you ask. "Mawnin. Beg yuh tell mi weh di bathroom deh?" goes down much better than the question on its own.
- Match the other person. If someone greets you with evenin, answer with evenin. If a peer says wah gwaan, wah gwaan back is fine.
- Don't overdo it. A natural mawnin in your own voice is better than a forced wah gwaan, mon in a put-on accent. See speak Patois naturally.
Quick list
- Wah gwaan? What's up? (casual)
- Wha appen? What's happening? (casual)
- Weh yuh a seh? What's up? (casual)
- Mawnin / Evenin Good morning / good evening (polite, for anyone)
- Bless up / Blessings Warm hello (and goodbye)
- Mi deh yah I'm OK (reply)
Next, learn how to leave: how to say goodbye in Jamaican Patois.
Questions people ask
How do you reply to wah gwaan?
Mi deh yah ('I'm here', meaning I'm doing OK) is the classic reply. Mi good or Everyting criss also work. You can return the question: Mi deh yah, wah gwaan wid yuh?
Is it wah gwaan or wagwan?
Same greeting, different spellings. Wah gwaan follows common Jamaican spelling, and wagwan is the usual spelling in London and online. JLU writes it Wa gwaan.
Can a tourist say wah gwaan?
Yes, with friends, peers and people you've got chatting with. For an older person, a shopkeeper or someone you don't know, a simple Mawnin or Evenin is more respectful and usually goes down better.