Cool MateWhat’s going on vs What's happening
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What’s going on
InformalTop 1,000 (very common)
What's happening
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: What's happeningMost common: What’s going on
| What’s going on | What's happening | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒts ˈɡəʊɪŋ ɒn//🇺🇸 //wɑts ˈɡoʊɪŋ ɑn// | 🇬🇧 //wɒts ˈhæpənɪŋ//🇺🇸 //wɑts ˈhæpənɪŋ// |
| Meaning | A way to ask what is happening or wrong. | A way to ask what is going on. |
| Example | When I walked in, I saw everyone looking worried and asked, 'What’s going on?' | I ran into John at the party and asked, 'What's happening?' |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | What's going on here, What's going on lately, What's going on with you | What's happening now, What's happening here, What's happening with you |
| Common mistakes | Using it in a formal context, which sounds inappropriate., Confusing it with 'What’s wrong?' which is more specific about problems. | Using in formal contexts like business meetings., Confusing with 'What's happening with you?', which is more personalized. |
| Usage notes | Use in casual conversations. Avoid in formal settings. Good for checking on someone’s feelings or the situation. | "What's happening" is informal and often used among friends. It's best avoided in very formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: What’s going on vs What's happening
What's the difference between What’s going on and What's happening?
What’s going on: A way to ask what is happening or wrong. What's happening: A way to ask what is going on.
Which is more formal: What’s going on and What's happening?
What's happening is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: What’s going on and What's happening?
What’s going on is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
What’s going on: When I walked in, I saw everyone looking worried and asked, 'What’s going on?' What's happening: I ran into John at the party and asked, 'What's happening?'
Can I use What’s going on and What's happening interchangeably?
Not always. What’s going on and What's happening 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.