How to Respond to "What's Up?"
The easiest way to respond to "What's up?" is "Not much, you?" because the phrase is usually a casual greeting rather than a real request for news. If you want more conversation, add one small detail about your day ("Just got back from the gym, you?") and pass the question back.
That said, "What's up?" is a slippery little phrase. Said with a raised eyebrow, it means "Is something wrong?" From a manager standing at your desk, it might mean "Do you need something?" And in a text from someone you haven't heard from in months, it is often a soft opener before a request or catch-up. Reading which version you've got is half the skill.
Quick answer: As a greeting, say "Not much, you?" or "Hey! Not a lot, how about you?" If you have news, give one line of it. If someone asks with concern, answer honestly ("Just a long day"). At work, mention what you're working on and offer help.
On this page
Where "What's up?" comes from and what it really asks
"What's up?" is a contraction of "What is up?", where "up" means "happening" or "going on," as in "Something's up." That sense of "up" has been in English for a long time, and the greeting form became especially popular in American speech during the twentieth century before spreading worldwide through films, TV and music. The famous cartoon line "What's up, Doc?" helped cement it in popular culture.
It is pronounced "wuts UP," often blurred to "wuh-SUP" or shortened to "sup" in casual speech. In texts you'll see "wassup," "whatsup," "sup," and "wbu" ("what about you?") in replies.
The four versions you'll hear
| Version | How it sounds | What it really means | Typical reply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Quick, upbeat, often with "hey" | "Hello" | "Not much, you?" |
| Genuine catch-up | In a text after a while, or with "so..." | "What's new with you?" | A short real update |
| Concerned | Softer, slower, with eye contact | "Are you okay?" | An honest answer |
| Purpose check | At work, at your door | "Do you need me?" or "What can I do for you?" | State your reason or offer help |
Grammar note
"What's up?" takes no object and doesn't change for tense in normal use. You can, however, expand it: "What's up with you?", "What's up with the printer?" (meaning "What's wrong with it?"), or "What's been up?" (rare, mostly American). The last two show how the phrase shades into "what's wrong" when it's attached to a thing.
35 ways to respond to "What's up?"
Here are replies grouped by setting. Each one is usable as written; adjust the details so they're true for you.
Casual replies for friends (in person)
| Reply | Tone | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| "Not much, you?" | Neutral, easy | Any friend, any time |
| "Not a lot. What's up with you?" | Friendly | Keeping it balanced |
| "Same old, same old." | Relaxed | Friends who know your routine |
| "Just surviving the week, mate." | Wry | UK/AU friends on a Thursday |
| "Living the dream." | Ironic | When things are fine but boring |
| "Ah, you know. The usual." | Low-key | Quick passing chats |
| "Honestly? Quite a lot. Got a minute?" | Open | When you actually want to share |
| "Hey! I was just thinking about you." | Warm | Friends you've missed |
Text and messaging replies
| Reply | Tone | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| "nm, u?" | Very casual | Close friends, quick texts |
| "Not much! Just got home. Wbu?" | Friendly | Everyday texting |
| "Watching the footy. You?" | Casual, specific | AU friends during a game |
| "Making dinner, what's going on?" | Open | When the text seems purposeful |
| "Hey stranger! Not much, how've you been?" | Warm | Someone you haven't heard from |
| "Bit busy rn, can I call you later?" | Polite, brief | When you can't chat |
| "All good here. What's on your mind?" | Inviting | When you sense they want something |
| "Just finished work, finally. You?" | Relatable | Weeknight messages |
Workplace replies
| Reply | Tone | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| "Not much, just catching up on emails. You?" | Professional, friendly | Colleagues in passing |
| "Working on the Henderson proposal. Need anything?" | Helpful | When your manager stops by |
| "Busy morning, but good. How about you?" | Polite | Any colleague |
| "Just prepping for the 2 p.m. Anything I can help with?" | Proactive | Team leads, managers |
| "Actually, glad you asked. Do you have five minutes?" | Purposeful | When you need to raise something |
| "All quiet on my end." | Light | Work chat (Slack, Teams) |
Family replies
| Reply | Tone | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| "Not much, Mum. Just got in from uni." | Warm | Parents (UK/AU) |
| "Hey Dad! Just making lunch. What's up with you?" | Friendly | Phone calls from parents |
| "Nothing exciting. How's Grandma?" | Caring | Turning attention to others |
| "Not a lot. The kids are finally asleep." | Relieved | Siblings, other parents |
When "What's up?" means "Are you okay?"
| Reply | Tone | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| "I'm fine, just tired." | Brief, honest | When you'd rather not discuss |
| "Long day. I'll be okay." | Honest, reassuring | Mild stress |
| "Actually, not great. Can we talk?" | Open, vulnerable | When you need support |
| "Thanks for asking. Just a lot on my plate." | Grateful | Coworkers who noticed |
| "Nothing you need to worry about, but thank you." | Gentle boundary | People you don't want to confide in |
Playful or funny replies
| Reply | Tone | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| "The sky. The ceiling. My rent." | Joking | Friends who like puns |
| "My screen time, apparently." | Self-deprecating | Text banter |
| "Not my motivation, that's for sure." | Wry | Monday mornings |
| "You tell me, you texted first!" | Teasing | Close friends |
Jokes like "The sky" are well worn. They're fine with friends who enjoy them, but they can feel like a brush-off with someone who genuinely wanted to chat. Follow a joke with a real line: "Kidding. Not much, you?"
Example conversations
Seeing replies in context shows how much detail to give.
A greeting in the corridor
Chloe: Hey, what's up? Marcus: Not much! Just grabbing coffee. You heading to the meeting?
Two lines, both friendly, and nobody expects more.
A text after months of silence
Liam: Hey, what's up? Been ages. Ava: Hey stranger! Not much, just moved to Perth for work. How've you been?
Here the reply gives one real update and asks back, which invites a genuine catch-up.
A manager at your desk
Ms. Patel: What's up, Jake? Jake: Hi! Just wrapping up the Q3 numbers. Did you need something, or should I swing by after?
Jake answers the literal question and checks the purpose, which is exactly what a manager's "What's up?" often means.
A friend who noticed you're quiet
Noah: You okay? What's up? Isla: Honestly, I didn't get the job in Manchester. Bit gutted. Noah: Oh no, I'm sorry. Want to get food and talk about it?
When the tone is concerned, an honest answer is welcome. You don't owe anyone details, but you also don't need to perform "fine."
A group chat
Ben: what's up everyone Sophie: not much, procrastinating Raj: same lol. anyone free saturday?
In group chats, "What's up" is mostly a nudge to start talking. A short, honest reply keeps things moving.
More sample replies you can borrow
- "Not a lot, just counting down to the weekend."
- "Just got off a call with a client in Ohio. Long one."
- "Nothing much, trying to decide what to cook."
- "Studying for my exam on Friday. Wish me luck."
- "Just walked the dog. It's freezing out."
- "Not much here. Heard you got a new job? Congrats!"
- "Just landed in Melbourne, actually."
- "Clearing out the garage. Send help."
- "Watching the cricket and pretending to work."
- "Same as usual, but good. What's new with you?"
What to avoid
- ❌ "Nothing." (alone, in text) It can read as cold or as a conversation-ender. ✅ "Nothing much, you?"
- ❌ A five-paragraph update to a quick hallway greeting. ✅ One line, then let them decide whether to ask more.
- ❌ "The sky" to your manager. ✅ "Just working on the budget. Need anything?"
- ❌ "I'm good, thanks" as an automatic reply every time. It isn't wrong, but it answers "How are you?" instead. ✅ "Good! Not much going on. You?" (covers both questions)
- ❌ Leaving a "what's up" text from a friend unread for days if you can reply. ✅ "Sorry, crazy week! Not much here, what's up with you?"
- ❌ "What do you want?" in reply. Even if you suspect a favor is coming, this sounds hostile. ✅ "All good here. What's on your mind?"
A note on that "I'm good" habit: lots of people answer "What's up?" with "Good, you?" and nobody truly minds. It's a sign of how closely the greetings have merged. If you'd like options built specifically for wellbeing questions, see our guide on how to respond to "How are you?".
US vs UK vs Australia
"What's up?" is understood everywhere English is spoken, but its frequency and its competitors vary.
- United States: "What's up?" is a core everyday greeting, especially among younger people and in casual workplaces. "Sup," "wassup," and "What's going on?" are common variants. Replies like "Not much, you?" are the default.
- United Kingdom: People use "What's up?" often, but British speech also has its own casual greetings. "You alright?" (often just "Alright?") is extremely common, and the expected reply is "Yeah, you?" not an account of your health. Note that in British English "What's up?" can lean more toward "What's wrong?" than in American English, depending on tone, so listen for the delivery. "Not much, you?" and "Nothing much" are standard replies.
- Australia: Australians use "What's up?" but also "How's it going?", "How ya going?" and "What are you up to?" A relaxed "Not much, mate, you?" or "Yeah, all good" fits naturally. "No worries" often follows when someone apologizes for interrupting; see Australian slang phrases for more local greetings.
There are no spelling differences in the phrase itself, and none of the three countries treats it as rude. In all of them it's informal, so swap it out for "How are you?" or "Hello" in formal settings.
Memory trick: "Little, then Lob"
When someone says "What's up?", give a little information, then lob it back.
- Little: "Not much," or one short fact ("Just got home").
- Lob: "You?" or "What's up with you?"
If the tone sounds worried rather than casual, switch to "Honest, then Thanks": an honest answer and thanks for asking.
Practice quiz: pick the best reply
- A classmate passes you in the corridor: "Hey, what's up?" a) A detailed account of your weekend b) "Not much, you?" c) Silence
- Your manager pauses at your desk: "What's up, Hannah?" a) "The sky." b) "Working on the slides for Thursday. Need anything?" c) "Why?"
- An old friend texts: "Hey, what's up? It's been forever!" a) "nothing" b) "Hey! Not much, just started a new job in Leeds. How are you?" c) "k"
- Your partner sees you sigh and asks, gently, "What's up?" a) "Nothing!" (snapped) b) "Just a stressful call with my sister. I'll tell you over dinner." c) "What's up with YOU?"
- In a group chat: "what's up everyone?" a) "not much, just finished work. anyone want to grab food?" b) No reply ever c) "Why are you asking?"
- A colleague messages on Slack: "What's up?" a) "All good! What can I do for you?" b) "lol" c) "Busy." (only)
Answers
- b — It's a greeting; a quick reply and return question is perfect.
- b — A manager's "What's up?" invites a brief update and an offer to help.
- b — One real update plus a question restarts the friendship.
- b — Concerned tone deserves an honest, calm answer.
- a — Group chat greetings are prompts to start talking.
- a — At work, a "What's up?" message often precedes a request, so offer help.
Related guides
If the conversation turns to plans, our article on WYD meaning and how to reply covers its close cousin "what you doing?" And when someone ends a chat with "ttyl" or similar, see TTYL meaning and similar sign-offs for ways to wrap up.
Keep it light, then read the room
Most of the time, "What's up?" is a friendly wave in word form, and "Not much, you?" is all it needs. The skill is noticing when it's more than that: a concerned friend, a manager with a question, or a long-lost contact who wants to reconnect. Match the energy you're given, add one true detail when you'd like the conversation to grow, and remember that a casual greeting never obliges you to share more than you want to.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common reply to "What's up?"
"Not much, you?" is the most common reply by far, along with "Nothing much" and "Hey, not a lot." These work because "What's up?" is usually a greeting, not a real question. Bouncing it back keeps the conversation friendly and balanced.
Is "What's up?" the same as "How are you?"
They overlap, but not exactly. "How are you?" asks about your wellbeing, while "What's up?" asks what is happening or what you are doing. That is why "Good, thanks" is a slightly odd answer to "What's up?" even though many people use it and nobody minds.
Is it rude to answer "What's up?" with "Nothing"?
Not rude, but a flat "nothing" on its own can sound like you do not want to talk, especially over text. Adding a return question or a small detail, such as "Nothing much, just got home. You?", keeps it warm.
How do I respond to "What's up?" from my boss?
Treat it as an opening for a quick update or a check-in. Answer briefly with what you are working on, such as "Just finishing the client report. Need anything?" If your boss uses it as a greeting in a corridor, "Not much, how's your morning?" is fine.
What does "wassup" or "sup" mean?
Both are informal spellings of "What's up?" "Sup" is very casual and common in texts among friends. You can reply to them exactly as you would to the full phrase, just in an equally relaxed tone.
How do I respond when "What's up?" means something is wrong?
If someone says "What's up?" with concern, they are asking whether you are okay. Answer honestly at the level you are comfortable with, such as "Just a rough day, but I'm alright" or "Actually, could we talk later?"