Cool MateHow you shaking vs What's up?
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
How you shaking
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
What's up?
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most common: What's up?
| How you shaking | What's up? | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //haʊ jʊ ˈʃeɪkɪŋ//🇺🇸 //haʊ ju ˈʃeɪkɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 //wɒts ʌp//🇺🇸 //wɑts ʌp// |
| Meaning | How are you doing? | A casual way to ask someone how they are or what's happening. |
| Example | Hey Tony, how you shaking? | When I saw my friend, I casually said, 'What's up?' |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | how you doing, how you feeling, how's it going | What's up, buddy?, What's up, man?, What's up with that?, Hey, what's up?, So, what's up? |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'How are you?' - it’s less formal., Used too seriously in a formal setting., Omitting the word 'you' - saying just 'How shaking?' | Using it in a formal meeting where a respectful greeting is expected., Misunderstanding it as a question requiring a detailed answer., Not responding appropriately with a casual reply. |
| Usage notes | Used informally among friends or peers. It may not be appropriate in formal contexts or with unfamiliar people. | Used mainly in casual conversations among friends. It may not be appropriate in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: How you shaking vs What's up?
What's the difference between How you shaking and What's up??
How you shaking: How are you doing? What's up?: A casual way to ask someone how they are or what's happening.
Which is more common: How you shaking and What's up??
What's up? is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
How you shaking: Hey Tony, how you shaking? What's up?: When I saw my friend, I casually said, 'What's up?'
Can I use How you shaking and What's up? interchangeably?
Not always. How you shaking and What's up? are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.