One syllable: What's Up.
WAH-tsuhp
/ˈwɑts ʌp/
What's Up is pronounced WAH-tsuhp (/ˈwɑts ʌp/). It has one syllable (What's Up), with the stress on "What's Up". As a noun, a casual interjection and noun phrase used to ask about someone’s current state or news, or to greet informally. In conversation it can function as a shorthand for “what is going on?” and often signals a friendly, conversational tone or opener. The phrase combines a contracted form of “what is” with “up,” typically spoken quickly and with reduced vowels in casual speech.
nounA casual interjection and noun phrase used to ask about someone’s current state or news, or to greet informally. In conversation it can function as a shorthand for “what is going on?” and often signals a friendly, conversational tone or opener. The phrase combines a contracted form of “what is” with “up,” typically spoken quickly and with reduced vowels in casual speech.
"What’s up, Sam? Haven’t seen you in ages."
"What’s up with your project? Is it finally done?"
"Hey there—what’s up? You look busy today."
/wɒts ʌp/ in British and Australian speech, and /wʌts ʌp/ in many American varieties. Stress typically falls on the first syllable of What’s (WHAT-s), with a light, compressed final /s/ in What’s and a quick, clean /ʌ/ in Up. The phrase is spoken as a connected unit, with the second word carrying the main pitch rise if used as a question. Practically, you’ll feel a light lip spread on the /w/ and a relaxed jaw for /ɒ/ or /ʌ/ depending on accent; keep /t/ crisp but not aspirated in casual speech. Audio reference: listen to native speakers in daily conversations and mimic the natural tempo.” ,
Common errors include: (1) overarticulating the /t/ in What’s, making it sound forced; keep it light or even unreleased in fast speech. (2) Misplacing stress, sometimes stressing Up instead of What’s; maintain primary focus on What’s. (3) Not linking the sounds between What’s and Up, creating two distinct syllables; aim for a smooth, connected blend. Correct by practicing with short phrases, using a light alveolar stop and releasing into /ʌ/ quickly.”
In US English you’ll often hear /wʌts ʌp/ with a rhotic accent and a relaxed /t/ or flap in casual speech. UK and AU varieties may use /wɒts ʌp/ or a closer /wɒts ʊp/ depending on region; the /ɜː/ sound is not typical here. Vowel quality in Up remains a short /ʌ/ in US and AU, while UK speakers sometimes glide to a more centralized vowel. Overall, consonant release is minimal in casual speech; focus on linking and intonation rather than heavy consonant articulation.” ,
The difficulty lies in rapid, connected speech and vowel reduction. In fast conversation, What’s can reduce to /wʌts/ or even /wʊts/, and Up can blur with adjacent sounds, especially in continuous talk. The challenge is maintaining the light /t/ closure without a harsh stop and keeping smooth linking between What’s and Up. Pay attention to tongue position for /w/, /ʌ/ (US) or /ɒ/ (UK/AU), and the quick, almost inaudible transition to /p/.
A distinctive aspect is the nearly seamless connection between What’s and Up in rapid speech, producing a single, flowing unit rather than two distinct words. The alveolar stop in What’s is often unreleased or lightly released to facilitate this flow, while Up remains a short, clipped syllable. Mastery comes from practicing speed progression and minimal pairs to stabilize the blend and maintain natural rhythm in everyday talk.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "What's Up"!
The phrase What’s Up originated as a contraction of What is Up, a colloquial greeting dating to early modern American English. “What” traces to Old English hwæt, while “up” derives from Old English up, meaning toward the top or upward direction. In informal speech, the verb “is” commonly becomes a reduced, elided form, especially in rapid conversation, yielding What’s. The expression gained popularity in 20th-century American slang as a casual, friendly opener among peers, evolving to function both as a greeting and a prompt for social or logistical information. The sense of inquiry about one’s status or situation became the primary pragmatic use, while the phrase retains flexibility to convey surprise, concern, or casual acknowledgment depending on intonation and context. First known uses appear in mid-20th-century American dialogue in films and literature, with progressively wider adoption in everyday speech through media and social interaction, establishing its status as a staple of informal, contemporary English.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "What's Up" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "What's Up" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "What's Up" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "What's Up"
-oup sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
