Mastering Casual Greetings
Yuki was walking down the hallway at her university when her American classmate Mike waved and said, “Hey Yuki, what’s up?”
She smiled and replied, “I’m fine, thank you. And you?”
Mike gave a funny look, said, “Okay….” and kept on walking.
Yuki’s smile faded. Did she say something wrong?
This scene is not uncommon. “What’s up?” may sound like “How are you?”—but it’s not. It’s asking what you’re doing.
Confusing
Most English textbooks teach formal greetings first. "How are you?" gets responses like "I'm fine" or "I'm well." This makes sense for polite, formal situations.
But "What's up?" is completely casual. It's asking "What are you doing?" not "How do you feel?" The question wants information about activities, not health reports.
Some cultures often use more formal greetings. Even casual conversations can start with polite phrases. American casual talk jumps straight to very informal language.
The rhythm makes this harder. Native speakers often say "WASZ-up" or just "SUP." It sounds like one quick sound, not three separate words. Your brain expects a clear question. English gives you a greeting grunt.
What "What's Up?" Really Means
This expression has three basic uses:
"What are you doing right now?" The speaker wants to know about your current activity. They might want to join you or just make conversation.
"What's happening in your life?" This asks about recent events or plans. It's more than just this moment, but still casual.
"Hello" Sometimes it's just a greeting. The speaker doesn't really want a long answer. They're being friendly while walking past.
The key is reading the situation. If someone stops to talk, they want a real answer. If they're walking past, they just want a quick greeting response.
Three Types of Good Responses
Type 1: "Not Much" Answers
These work when your life is routine or you don't want to share details:
"Not much." "Nothing much." "Just chillin'." "Just hanging out." "The usual."
These responses are perfect when someone says "What's up?" while walking past. They're friendly but brief. No drama, no long stories.
Type 2: Current Activity Answers
These tell what you're doing right now:
"Just got back from lunch." "Heading to class." "Working on this report." "Waiting for my friend."
Use these when you're actually doing something specific. They give the person real information to respond to if they want to continue talking.
Type 3: Future Plans Answers
These share what you're about to do:
"About to grab coffee." "Going to meet Sarah later." "Planning to study tonight." "Thinking about dinner."
These responses can lead to more conversation. The person might ask about your plans or even suggest joining you.
The Listening Challenge
In fast speech, "What's up?" becomes almost unrecognizable. Native speakers compress it into one or two sounds. "WASZ-up" happens in less than one second.
Sometimes people just say "SUP" with a head nod. This is extremely casual and usually happens between friends or classmates who see each other regularly.
The intonation rises like a question, but it's often just a greeting rhythm. Don't panic trying to give a perfect answer. The speaker probably just wants acknowledgement.
Listen for the casual, relaxed tone. This tells you the person wants a casual, relaxed response. No formal language needed.
Practice the Response Types
Practice all three response types until they feel natural. Start with "Not much" because it works in almost any situation.
Record yourself saying these responses. Do they sound casual and relaxed? Or do they sound like you're giving a formal report?
Try responding to "What's up?" with different answers:
- When you're busy: "Just working on homework."
- When you're free: "Nothing much, just hanging out."
- When you have plans: "About to go to lunch."
Notice how each response gives different information and creates different conversation possibilities.
What NOT to Say
Avoid these common mistakes:
Don't talk about your health: "I'm fine" or "I'm tired" sound wrong unless you're actually sick or the person knows you've been having health problems.
Don't give your life story: "Well, I woke up at 7, had breakfast, went to class..." This is too much information for a casual greeting.
Don't ask it back immediately: Unlike "How are you?" you don't automatically return "What's up?" Just answer their question.
Don't sound too formal: "I am currently studying in the library" sounds stiff. "Just studying" sounds natural.