10 Ways to Respond to “WHAT'S UP?” — in English Conversations

Summary

This lesson teaches English learners how to respond naturally and confidently to the informal greeting 'what’s up.' It highlights the cultural context, the informal nature of the phrase, and how responses can vary depending on the situation. The video explains pronunciation variations like 'what up' and 'sup,' and offers a range of responses such as 'just chilling,' 'the usual,' or 'I'm about to grab a bite.' Learners are encouraged to consider different contexts and practice using tone and imagination. The lesson also introduces space repetition as a tool for better vocabulary retention.

Takeaways

• 😀 'What's up' is an informal greeting commonly used among friends and peers, not in formal situations.
• 😀 The pronunciation of 'What's up' can vary: 'What up', 'Sup', and 'Was up' are all common variations.
• 😀 Responding to 'What's up' with 'Fine' or 'Good' is incorrect, as it’s not the same as 'How are you?'.
• 😀 Common responses to 'What's up' include 'Not much, just chilling', 'Just hanging', and 'Oh, you know, the usual'.
• 😀 'What's up' can be used to describe what you're currently doing or share news, both good or bad.
• 😀 The tone and context in which you say 'What's up' significantly affects its meaning.
• 😀 Cultural awareness is important: some greetings, like kissing on the cheek, may vary by country (e.g., common in Brazil, not in the US).
• 😀 'What's up' can be used to invite someone to join your plans, like going to the movies or grabbing a bite.
• 😀 In informal conversations, 'What's up' can also serve as a casual way to check why someone is calling or contacting you.
• 😀 Space repetition is a helpful technique to retain new vocabulary and expressions learned from language lessons.
• 😀 To respond naturally to 'What's up', imagine different scenarios where you might use specific phrases based on your activities or mood.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this lesson?

The main focus is on how to correctly respond to the informal question 'What's up?' and how to sound natural and confident when using it in conversation.

Why do many English learners respond incorrectly to 'What's up?'

Many learners mistakenly treat 'What's up?' the same as 'How are you?' and give responses like 'Fine, and you?' which are not appropriate. 'What's up?' is more about what someone is doing or what's happening in their life.

In what situations should you avoid using 'What's up?'

You should avoid using 'What's up?' in formal situations, like at work or when meeting someone in a very formal setting, such as your partner’s grandmother. Instead, use more standard greetings like 'How are you?'

What does 'What's up?' mean and how is it different from 'How are you?'

'What's up?' asks about what someone is doing or what's happening in their life, whereas 'How are you?' is a general inquiry into someone's emotional or physical state.

What is the cultural significance of greeting people in Brazil with a kiss on the cheek?

In Brazil, it's common to greet people of the opposite sex with a kiss on the cheek, especially in informal settings. However, in the US, this would be considered unusual and a handshake is more typical.

What is the meaning of the phrase 'feel the place out' in the context of cultural awareness?

'Feel the place out' means to observe and assess the social norms of a new environment or culture before engaging in informal behaviors, like greetings or conversation styles.

How can 'What's up?' be pronounced informally?

'What's up?' can be pronounced in several informal ways: 'What up?' (removing the 's'), 'Sup?' (dropping 'what'), or even 'Was up?' (another variant often used in casual speech).

What does 'just chilling' mean in response to 'What's up?'

'Just chilling' means that the person is relaxing or hanging out, not doing anything in particular. It conveys a laid-back attitude.

How does tone affect the meaning of 'What's up?'?

The tone can drastically change the meaning. A friendly 'What's up?' conveys a casual greeting, while a more irritated tone could make it sound like the speaker is annoyed or asking 'Why are you bothering me?'

What is 'spaced repetition' and how can it help learners remember new vocabulary?

Spaced repetition is a learning technique where information is reviewed at increasing intervals to reinforce memory. It helps learners retain vocabulary and expressions over time, preventing them from forgetting new words.