Cool MateWhat's really going on here vs What's up?
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What's really going on here
Top 2,000 (common)
What's up?
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: What's really going on here
| What's really going on here | What's up? | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒts ˈrɪəli ˈɡəʊɪŋ ɒn hɪə//🇺🇸 //wʌts ˈrɪli ˈɡoʊɪŋ ɑn hɪr// | 🇬🇧 //wɒts ʌp//🇺🇸 //wɑts ʌp// |
| Meaning | Asking what is happening or why something is the way it is. | A casual way to ask someone how they are or what's happening. |
| Example | I walked into the meeting and said, 'What's really going on here?' | When I saw my friend, I casually said, 'What's up?' |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | going on, really happening, situation here, what's going on, underlying issues | What's up, buddy?, What's up, man?, What's up with that?, Hey, what's up?, So, what's up? |
| Common mistakes | Using it in overly formal contexts., Not using it when the situation is unclear., Confusing it with 'What is going on here?' which is more direct. | 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 | Use in conversations to seek clarification about a situation. It’s informal and can be used when things seem confusing. | Used mainly in casual conversations among friends. It may not be appropriate in formal situations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: What's really going on here vs What's up?
What's the difference between What's really going on here and What's up??
What's really going on here: Asking what is happening or why something is the way it is. What's up?: A casual way to ask someone how they are or what's happening.
Which is more formal: What's really going on here and What's up??
What's really going on here is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
What's really going on here: I walked into the meeting and said, 'What's really going on here?' What's up?: When I saw my friend, I casually said, 'What's up?'
Can I use What's really going on here and What's up? interchangeably?
Not always. What's really going on here 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.