What to say to whats up

How to Respond to “What’s Up?” (15+ Clever Ways)

“What’s up?” is a popular slang phrase that people use in text messages and social media as an informal greeting. It can be used as an icebreaker or to ask about someone else’s day.

Here are clever ways to respond to this question:

Susan Trombetti

Relationship Expert and Matchmaker, Exclusive Matchmaking

“Having a great day! What about you?”

When someone texts “What’s Up,” they don’t literally mean to ask you what you are doing necessarily at this moment. It’s more along the lines if they just texted “Hey,” but then that would sound a little like not a complete thought or effort, and “what’s up” sort of works a bit better.

It’s like when a salesperson asks, “how are you doing?”

You wouldn’t give them a complete rundown of your day and life, so don’t respond with something lengthy and literal. A short reply that quickly answers so that you can either show you are interested and keep the flow going or a little flirting is all you need.

Some good replies might be:

Andrew Fox

Certified Personal Trainer | Founder and CEO, Aim Workout

“I’m hanging in there, been a busy week”

What’s up is the common way to enquire about other people’s well-being and what’s going on in their lives. So, instead of saying, “I am fine,” or “nothing new,” you can use the following responses:

Andrew Gutman

Managing Editor, BarBend

Try to keep your response short and to the point

Responding to “what’s up” can leave us feeling unsure of what to say. While this is an incredibly common greeting, it can have a varied meaning depending on who it’s coming from. Typically, someone will ask “what’s up” to quickly ask how you are doing.

Here are some ways to respond depending on who approaches you:

Friend

Typically when a friend asks you “what’s up,” they are looking for a more in-depth response than “nothing” or “not much.”

Chances are they want to know how you are doing or what you have been up to lately-especially if some time has passed since you last chatted with them. Try to update them on how you’ve been and ask them the same, showing genuine interest in what they have to say.

Acquaintance

If you are asked “what’s up” by an acquaintance or someone you don’t know all that well, they are most likely asking to be polite. Try to keep your response short and to the point without divulging too much personal information.

Sometimes people take advantage of when others ask them “what’s up” by launching into their life story. Simply state how you are doing and ask them the same. From there, if a conversation evolves — let it, but otherwise, try not to get too personal.

Co-worker/Supervisor

When conversing with a co-worker or supervisor, chances are they are trying to create small talk, or they truly want to know how you are, especially if you have an established relationship.

Respond with how you are doing or feeling, and make sure to ask them as well. Make sure to keep your response work-appropriate and don’t get long-winded. While making connections with your co-workers is vital, you are still at work after all.

Tatiana Gavrilina

Content Marketing Writer, DDI Development

“And how are you doing, please tell me?”

It seems to me that this phrase has become so clichéd that the person who asks does not expect to get an answer. But it is necessary to answer; moreover, it is necessary to answer unexpectedly in order to stand out and be noticed.

How to answer popular phrases like “What’s up?”

Answer depending on the level of your relationship:

This way, we show our interest in how the person is doing, and at the same time, we avoid being called chatterboxes.

Another factor to consider is your purpose in communicating:

Responding in this way, I think you can surprise the interlocutor and make them really pay attention to you, and not just use the catchphrase.

Joe Wilson

Senior Employment Advisor, MintResume

The response depends on who asked the question

“What’s up?” This is a question so often used that we don’t usually take it seriously. But really, what’s the appropriate response to this? The answer is, it depends on who asked the question.

Acquaintance

You can just say “nothing much” “everything’s fine”. Acquaintances usually just ask this question as a form of greeting.

Superior

When a superior asked you this question, you can give updates on your current projects or tasks.

Friend

You can be vulnerable to a friend. If you are asked this question, you can share life updates or anything you are currently struggling with.

Partner

You could share the tiniest details with your partner if they asked you this. They would appreciate your honesty and willingness to share stuff.

Eden Cheng

“Not much. How ’bout you?”

Generally speaking, when someone greets you by asking, “What’s up?”, they aren’t necessarily expecting an in-depth answer from you. In fact, most people usually don’t want a true, non-terse answer.

As such, any form of polite response that you can come up with will usually suffice, as they are often just looking to fulfill a form of mutual acknowledgment. This means that any neutral and short response is acceptable.

You can respond by simply saying, “Not much. How ’bout you?” or “Looking forward to the weekend,” or anything else along those lines.

The main thing is to just make sure that you confirm all is well by politely returning the greeting. However, it’s important to note that the right response can also often vary depending on whether you are talking to a stranger or a friend.

For instance, when talking to a stranger, a simple word of acknowledgment does the trick and is sufficient, but with a friend, you can often be more casual and even sarcastic with your replies.

Jacob Villa

Co-Founder and Marketing Director, School Authority

“I’m busy hanging in there, how about you?”

“What’s up?” is a common question. They’re curious as to what you’re up to or whether you have any free time. The significance of the question is entirely dependent on the context in which it was posed.

To put it another way, your response will be influenced by the circumstances of the inquiry.

As someone who is dedicated to providing students with professional goals and a way of life, I would be willing to respond to this question with something like, “I’m busy hanging in there, how about you?”

A great technique of expressing our position and asking him. We’ll see that we’re often in the same situation, which could lead to further in-depth discussions about conquering life’s obstacles, decisions, and careers.

Michelle Devani

Founder, lovedevani

Respond with a life update

The question “what’s up” can mean a lot of things. But in my opinion, as a relationship expert, this can be more relatable in asking about anything that someone wants to tell you that will eventually lead to a random-topic conversation.

So basically, people respond to it by the lines “nothing new.” But then the conversation will still roll. Answering that question, saying something about your current situation or any update about your life will do. It actually doesn’t matter what you will say because this question is just like a greeting line to encourage an exchange of messages.

However, if you intend to say something you want to talk about with that person, you can directly cite it. For example, “Well now, I’m currently stressed out with my projects.”

Jessica Zhao

Chief Marketing Director, Spacewhite

“Nothing out of the ordinary!”

“What’s up” is deliberately vague and infuriating! I value specificity in communication very highly. If I receive a text like this in my personal life, I try to understand what information this person is seeking to glean from me.

At times I’ll respond with:

Sometimes you just need to nudge the person in the right direction and get them to ask what they really want to know.

“What’s up” in a professional context is not acceptable! Your co-workers should always aim to be succinct and to the point. A better question would be, “Hey, do you have a minute? I need to run something by you.”

That way, you can decide if now is a good time or whether you need to schedule a time for later.

25 of the Best Responses When Someone Says What’s Up

Posted on Published: March 29, 2020

“What’s up?” is a phrase used by English speaking people worldwide. “What’s up?” is a greeting, a question, and a show of mutual respect or understanding.

Knowing how to respond to “What’s up?” all depends on the situation. Knowing how to respond also depends on the person who said it- is it a friend, stranger, or coworker? Are you confused?

Well, here are 25 responses that will make you a pro at how to respond to “What’s up?”:

How to respond to “What’s up?” when it is said by a friend

When your friend asks you “What’s up?” your response can be funny or sarcastic because you are well-acquainted with the speaker.

These are nine ways of how to respond to “What’s up?” when it is asked by a friend:

01 “My blood pressure!”

This is best used if you are getting a bit older. You can use this when you have to contend with things like high blood pressure daily. You’re making light of your situation, and you’re even bringing attention to your medical issue.

This can be used if you don’t have high blood pressure as well because it can mean that you are going through a stressful situation. When you say something like this, your friend will be inclined to ask what you mean, which is likely going to start a conversation.

02 “Not a thing but a chicken wing!”

This is popular phrase that could be heard on TV shows a few decades ago. It was used by characters who were trying to be funny on TV. Sure, it makes no sense, but hey, it rhymes! That’s what will make it super funny to the person who hears it (hopefully!)

Photo by Omar Mahmood under pexels license

03 “Same old, same old.”

This is a good thing to say if you aren’t up to anything new or if nothing special has happened since the last time you saw your friend. It is also good to use if you had a problem, and the friend is trying to get an update but nothing has changed.

04 “My rent.”

This is a funny response, especially when your rent has actually gone up. It’s fun to use this phrase with someone who you’ve known for a long time and who will understand that it’s a joke. It can also spark a discussion.

Photo by Alex Block on unsplash

05 “That’s for me to know and for you to find out.”

This can be used in two ways. The first way is as a joke, and the other way is used when you are being sarcastic and aren’t in the mood to do much talking with anyone.

06 *Shrug* “You know…”

This is a good response to a friend because he/she will likely know exactly what you mean. It’s also a way to say, “nothing much.”

photo by acworks on photo-ac

07 “Ah, can’t complain.”

If you don’t have anything good or new to tell your friend, you can use this response. It says to your friend that things are neutral at the moment, and you’re not bothered by the way things are.

08 “Everything that’s supposed to be.”

This response is simple and straightforward. It means that you aren’t really in the mood for a conversation, but things are okay with you. It can also be perceived as a joke, meaning the sky is up, the ceiling is up, the stars are up, and so forth.

09 “I’m screwed, today I found out…”

If this is a good friend, then he/she has probably asked “What’s up?” to find out how you’ve been because you look worried or unwell. You can use this response to start explaining what’s wrong at that moment.

How to respond to “What’s up?” when it is asked by a coworker

When it’s a coworker who has asked “What’s up?” you’ll have to tread lightly if you don’t have a close relationship with him/her. If this is your friend, your responses can be more relaxed, fun and/or sarcastic.

These are eight ways of how to respond to “What’s up?” when it is said by a coworker:

10 “It sure isn’t my salary.”

This is a funny response, especially when you both work at a low-paying or minimum-wage job. It is also good to use if you didn’t get that promotion that you wanted and feel like making light of it.

Photo by Alexander Mils on unsplash

11 “I’m busy with this proposal, let’s talk later.”

If a coworker asks you “What’s up?” but you don’t really feel like talking, then this is a good way to get out of it without being rude. It is a good way to answer because it makes sense, and you’re at work to do your job. You will give the impression that you are not there to make conversation.

12 “I’m hanging in there, been a busy week.”

This is a good answer to use with a coworker who you aren’t very close with, but you want to give a polite, not too formal answer. It’s a good way of saying, “I hate it here” without actually saying those specific words.

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13 “Counting the hours until the weekend.”

The best day of the week for working adults is Friday because it’s when they can look forward to the weekend of rest and whatever else is on the agenda. This type of response says exactly that.

You can use a depressed tone if you want to emphasize that you really want to get off work, or you can use a more upbeat and cheerful tone to show that you have something specific to look forward to. This may spark a conversation as well.

14 “All kinds of stuff, did you hear about my promotion?”

This is good to use when things are going great for you at work. You want to note that the purpose of this response isn’t to show off, but it’s simply to share your good news with a close coworker.

photo by acworks on photo-ac

15 “Nothing much, what’s up with you?”

This is one of the most common responses to “What’s up?” and it is generally almost a reflex. It is simple, and you’re being polite by asking the same question in return, especially when this coworker is not someone you are close to. It is just a way of having small talk.

16 “Me, since 5a.m. I’m exhausted, man.”

This is a way to say that you are tired and have been up for a while. It is good to use at work because it can help you start a conversation that will pass the time until it is the end of the workday.

17 “Nothing special.”

You can use this response with a coworker who you don’t like very much, but you still want to be polite. You most likely don’t want to make things awkward or have to get called in by HR. This answer shows respect, but it also shows that you don’t want to have a conversation because you didn’t ask the same question in return.

How to respond to “What’s up?” when it is said by a stranger

When a stranger says “What’s up?” the way you respond will indicate whether you’re up for a conversation or not with this stranger. The way you respond will also depend on the scenario.

Have a look at these eight ways of how to respond to “What’s up?” when it is said by a stranger:

18 “The cost of everything I need to buy apparently.”

This is a good response when a stranger says, “What’s up?” when you’re in a supermarket, clothing store, or anywhere else goods are sold to customers. This is a snarky way to take a jab at the store and get a chuckle out of another customer who probably has similar thoughts.

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What is the expected response to «What’s up?»

When somebody ask me What’s up? I answer I am well, thank you.

Is that the expected answer, or should I answer something else?
What does a native speaker understand when I reply like that?

5 Answers 5

Ah, this phrase is all about context. The meaning of «What’s up?» and expected responses depend on the circumstances in which the question is asked.

From what I remember, the phrase is derived from «What’s the update?» which is basically checking up how things are going. It has however fallen into common usage both in the US (I think) and UK.

As a greeting:

«What’s up?» or here (West Midlands of England) commonly just «sup» is a general greeting, you can response with answers like «Not much», «Nothing», «Alright» etc.

In this context, the response is just a return of the greeting, or a confirmation that all is going normally. This phrase is similar to «Hello» or «How are you» in common usage.

Person 2: «F*** all mate» (my typical response to friends, this means nothings going on and I’m bored because of it :^) )

As an enquiry

In this context, «What’s up?» can be when the asker of the question may have observed someone having some trouble, or is distressed at something.

It’s a polite, non-intrusive way of checking all is relatively okay or if they need assistance. A similar phrase would be «What’s the matter?» or «What’s the problem?».

When facing criticism or disapproval of something, a common phrase is «What’s up with it?» meaning the asker is not sure what they have done wrong and wants to know what said issue is.

Person 1 notices Person 2 with their head in their hands at their desk

Person 1: «What’s up?»

Person 2: «Nothing, just tired.»

How to respond to «What’s up?» [closed]

Want to improve this question? Update the question so it can be answered with facts and citations by editing this post.

Often when I start talking to people they say «What’s up?». How do I respond to this?

Should I say «What’s up?» back? I typically can’t think of any good response and usually settle with «hi» or «hello»; is that ok?

8 Answers 8

«What’s up?» is typically used in a phatic manner as opposed to actually being a question with an expectation of an answer. The purpose of this phrase is to indicate interest in the other person.

Because of this, «Nothing much» is a perfectly valid response. If this is too boring you can try one of the variations like, «Same old, same old». This is perfectly fine.

That said I usually try to give out a bit more info, even if it’s just, «Nothing much, I just got myself a drink» or «Nothing much, sadly I’ve been a bit too busy to do anything interesting (compare to the same phrase with the nothing much; in this case, the other person is more likely to feel obligated to respond to what you’ve said, instead of moving it to the topic they’d actually like to talk about). I prefer these versions because by making an effort to provide at least some answer to the question you are showing that you are more engaged with the conversation.

That said, I generally try to provide a reasonable conversation hook like, «Oh, not that much, I’ve just been watching a bunch of videos from Crash Course». This also has the advantage of making look like a slightly more interesting person.

«What’s up» is another way of asking «How are you» and «what’s going on». To reply, you can usually start the conversation with something interesting that’s happened since you last spoke, or, if nothing interesting has happened you can simply say «not much, what’s up with you?».

Saying «What’s up» back or also saying «hi» would be a little awkward as they’re asking you a question. If you can’t think of anything interesting to reply with (i.e. nothing has happened), you can just say «not much».

You can answer in the way you like to do.

Sometimes, I respond:

In your case, since you usually say «hi» or «hello», you can add:

Depends on who’s asking and the setting.

I’d say this ideally should be asked by someone who you have shared some sort of experience with (a work colleague, close friend, etc.). If it’s just some random person, then I think the question is a little awkward; the reason being that «What’s up?» is an invitation to offer a conversational hook. If I don’t know who you are, then there’s really no common ground and it puts me in an awkward position. If I’m sociable, then no big deal, but the person asking «What’s up?» doesn’t know that.

I’d go even further and say that if you don’t have a casual, joking relationship with that person, then they shouldn’t be asking that. Of course, it wouldn’t be rude, but there would be many other ways to acknowledge the person/setting without putting them on the hook. Proper response in this case: «Not much» with politeness and neutrality in expression.

One exception to this is if you’re in a room of people that you don’t know and you were just introduced by someone you do know. In this case, «What’s up?» is an icebreaker for you to meet and greet the others, not to be extended to any conversation, but to go down the line to acknowledge each person. This should be used in a casual setting only, and is typically seen in a group of guys hanging out. In this case, it’s more about responding back with confidence and enthusiasm since you’re giving a first impression.

On the other hand (used one-on-one), asking «What’s up?» to a friend should imply some sort of casual response that somehow recollects a moment/shared experience that you both can relate to and that is unique to your experiences together.

For instance: My buddy and I periodically meet up for happy hour at the same bar on Fridays. When he’s texting me «What’s up?» at 3pm, I know exactly what he’s talking about. Another example would be if I haven’t seen a friend who I haven’t seen in a while, but who’s got a great sense of humor. I this case, I’d answer it with some sort of off-the-wall answer that will make him chuckle and get the rest of the conversation going on the right footing.

You should have some funny replies for when you’re asked, «What’s up?» because it’s such a common question that you’ll be asked hundreds of times in your life. You don’t want to give the same answer every single time or your conversations will get boring and predictable. If you give a bland reply, then it might even end whatever conversation the other person was trying to start. That’s why you need to have some funny replies for when you’re asked, «What’s up?»

1 My Blood Pressure. Because of You

If you’re not a fan of the person you’re speaking to, tell them right away. This is one of the funny replies for when you’re asked, «What’s up?» that will either get you a laugh or a new enemy, so use it carefully. Of course, you could always replace «because of you» with something more accurate like, «because Benedict Cumberbatch just got engaged to someone who isn’t me.»

2 A Preposition

The word ‘up’ is a preposition. So if someone asks you what is up, you can reply in the most literal way possible. They’ll either be confused or thankful for the mini English lesson.

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3 Your Time is up

If you don’t want to be bothered to talk to the other person, use this reply to let them know that you’re a busy bee. You don’t have enough time to waste on them, because you have better things on your to-do list.

4 It’s a Bird. It’s a Plane. It’s Superman!

Don’t be afraid to get a little silly. Look up in the sky like you’re pondering their question, and then answer it with excitement. The louder you are, the better.

5 The Sky

This is a classic that everyone has heard time and time again, but it works if you can’t think of anything else to say. I mean, it’s true, isn’t it? They can’t fault you for being accurate.

6 I’m Sorry, That’s Confidential Information

If you don’t feel like telling them what you’ve been up to, act like you’re living a spy’s life. Your information is too valuable to be shared, so they’ll just have to deal with not hearing all of your crazy, exciting stories.

7 Gas Prices

It’s never the wrong time to make a comment about the economy. If you don’t drive, then you can say something more relevant, like «One Direction ticket prices.» Whatever works for you.

8 The opposite of down. Didn’t You Watch Sesame Street?

Here’s another way to answer the question literally. If you want to tell them the definition of «up,» then this is the perfect way to do so.

9 I’m Socially Programmed to Say ‘Not Much.’

Let’s be honest, «not much» is the way you answer the question 99% of the time. It’s the easiest thing to say, so it pops right out of your mouth. However, next time you’re asked the question, answer with this slightly altered reply to see what reaction you get.

«What’s up?» is a question that you’ll hear almost every single day, which is why you should have a few different responses to it. You don’t want to be predictable by always answering in the same exact way, so you have to switch it up. How do you usually reply to the question?