The word "WASSUP" is a casual greeting commonly used among friends. Its spelling comes from the contracted phrase "What is up?". The pronunciation can be written in IPA phonetic transcription as /wʌ'sʌp/. This consists of two syllables, with the primary stress falling on the first syllable "wʌ". The "a" in both syllables is pronounced with a short "uh" sound, and the "p" at the end is unaspirated, meaning it is not followed by a puff of breath.
WASSUP is an informal slang term derived from the question "What's up?" The term is primarily used in casual conversation and informal messaging, especially in online chatting and text messaging. It is often used as a colloquial greeting to enquire about the general well-being or current state of affairs of the person being addressed.
The term gained popularity in the 1990s, particularly among African-American communities in urban areas of the United States. It has since become widely recognized and adopted in various English-speaking regions and across different cultural backgrounds.
WASSUP is an abbreviation and contraction of "what is up" and is often spelled with additional letters, such as "wassup" or "wassssup," to emphasize the casual and conversational tone. It is commonly used as an introductory phrase to initiate a conversation, similar to "hello" or "hey," but with a more informal and relaxed demeanor.
The term has also been popularized and associated with a well-known Budweiser advertising campaign in the late 1990s, in which a group of friends greets each other with a comically exaggerated pronunciation of "Wassup." This campaign further propelled the term into mainstream usage, solidifying its position as a recognized and frequently used slang greeting.