Native English speakers, What is "what's up?"?

Question

I've never understood what this question is.

What should I say when somebody asks me "Hey, what's up?"?

Answer 1

When they say "What's up" it means that they are wondering what you want, how you are feeling, or what you are doing. Usually they are asking you how you are feeling, you can say:
-I am fine
-My day hasn't been so good lately
-I am doing good...


lets say they see you doing something, you would respond
"Oh I'm just _______"
for an example you were drawing and someone asked you whats up you would say " oh, I'm just drawing "

Okay, if someone asks you "whats up" and they want to know what you want, you say: (maybe not always what you want but something you need like help) lets say you needed something from you waiter at a restaurant.
Waiter: Yeah, Whats up?
You: Oh I just need a cup of water.

Answer 2

in correct English it normally means 'what's wrong?' or 'what's going on?'. If you were crying, for instance, someone might say 'What's up?'

What you are talking about is probably the slang use, where it's an informal greeting used by children and Americans, meaning 'hello, what's going on, what's happening in your life?'. I don't know what you should say in reply - probably a friendly 'Hey!' would be enough.

Answer 3

It's like saying, "Que pasa?" It's slang for, "What's going on?"

People usually respond with, "Nothing much."

The "up" part usually refers to significant events or happenings that are worthy of mentioning. "What's up?" Or it can just be a filler. In the realllly slangy term, the person might not even be expecting a response. This would be when they say, "'Sup."

To be safe, just say, "Nothing much." Or you could tell him/her what you've been doing lately. It depends on the context.

Answer 4

It is just a general greeting. Best response would be something short and not detailed such as "Not much" or if you are doing something, just keep it brief, like "Just working".
If you look upset people may also ask "What's up?" to mean "What's wrong?". Depending on the intonation, they may or may not use "Hey".

Answer 5

It's slang that means "What's going on" or "What have you been doing lately."

If you wish to avoid the question, the generic response to it is "Nothing" or "Nothing much", from my experience.

Answer 6

its a way for someone to say hello to you in a slang term or ask how you are or whats been happening

Answer 7

The term "Hey, what's up" is the same as asking how are you.

Answer 8

Let them know what is going on, what you are doing. "What's up is just a way of asking how you are, what's going on?

Answer 9

It is a short way of saying:"How are you and what is happening in your life lately?"

Answer 10

I think it's not suppose to answer that. 'What's up' is kind of: what's going on? depend on the context. it can also be the same as: what are you up to? - what do you want to do?