If you’ve ever seen the acronym “WSP” on social media before, you’ve probably wondered, “What does WSP mean?” Depending on the social media platform being used, WSP can stand for several things.
What Does WSP Mean?
WSP is the abbreviated form of “what’s up?”. Normally, you would use this abbreviation when sending text messages. A few people also use this phrase when instant messaging and on social media.
Despite being shortened, “what’s up?” still has its meaning. If you start a conversation with someone you don’t know well, you can use this phrase to gauge how well they know who they are talking to. If you go for a cup of coffee, it will be more polite to check up on them after some time.
The phrase “what’s up?” is a common greeting, and the answer to this question can be very broad. It can mean “hello,” “how are you?” or “what is going on in your life?” The phrase can also be used to see how someone is doing after a long time without contact.
With the phrase, it’s important to remember that body language, tone and context play a role in what the answer might be. If someone has a cold expression, then asking them how they are doing might not generate an optimistic result. In this case, it would better to ask them if they are doing well instead.
If you don’t know who you’re talking to and they have been silent for some time, saying “What’s up?” will usually get their attention and elicit an answer from them.
Synonyms of WSP
Synonyms for WSP include: Greetings, Howdy, Hi, Welcome, Good day, Hey, How are you, and what’s happening? In the U.S., if you use WSP in the morning, then it will usually be reciprocated with “good morning” or “hi.” If you ask after someone in a store or on the street, they will normally say hi back.
Different countries have different ways of answering questions altogether. In Japan, when a question is asked in public and the person being addressed doesn’t know who they are talking to, they will answer with just a quick nod and look away. The same goes for eye contact as well. In Greece, if someone doesn’t know you or thinks that you don’t have their best interest at heart, they will not respond to your greeting at all.
When to Use the ‘WSP’ Abbreviation
Use WSP rather than saying “what’s up?” when you’re texting someone, as it’s faster to type. This also applies to social media and instant messaging. If you have used the greeting several times with the same person and they know that you use this abbreviation, then it’s acceptable to use WSP in a conversation.
Use WSP when you are talking on a phone call if the other party hasn’t responded for a while. It will get their attention, and they’ll reply in return.
When Not to Use ‘WSP’ Abbreviation
It’s important not to use “what’s up” in formal situations, such as speaking with your teacher or professor at university, at work, or during an interview.
You should also avoid using the abbreviation when sending a text message to someone you don’t know well. You can still use it in social media conversations and on instant messaging, as long as the person is already a friend of yours.
Below are some examples of phrases with the same WSP meaning/use
“Hello, how have you been? / What’s going on in your life?” – This is a common way to greet someone and get an update on their life. – This is a common way to greet someone and get an update on their life.
“Hey, what’s good?” – This is a less formal greeting that you’d use with someone you know well.
“Hey, how are you doing?” – This is an alternative to the phrase above and can be used when talking to someone who seems distracted.
How to Use the Abbreviated ‘WSP’ in a Conversation
As stated earlier, WSP is usually used in text messages rather than in conversations, as it’s quicker to type. If you want to use the phrase in a conversation, here are a few tips:
Don’t use WSP too often, as it might irritate the other party. The best way to gauge this is by observing their body language and tone of voice, if possible.
Begin with “hi” or other synonyms (see above) if you’re talking to a stranger or someone you don’t know well. This will show that you want to be polite and respectful towards them from the beginning of your conversation.
If you don’t get a response from the other party, then you can ask “WSP?” as a follow-up question. Oftentimes, this will get their attention and they will answer with “hi, WSP? / what’s up?” in return.
Ex: Hey, WSP? I haven’t seen u in a while.
This is an example of using WSP in a text message. You can also use it in a conversation in a more casual tone.
If you’re hearing this question for the first time, then it’s important to take note of their body language and tone of voice. This is because the person asking is looking for a long or short response depending on how well they know you. If you just met them, then it wouldn’t normally be appropriate to say too much about yourself. On the other hand, if they have been acquaintances with you for some time, then you can talk more freely without having to worry about saying too much.
The question “what’s up?” is a polite way to say hi to someone you don’t know well. It is used in conversation, text messages, and instant messaging when the person you’re talking to seems distracted or has been silent for some time. The meaning of WSP is the same as the phrase “how are you?” or “what’s going on in your life.” You can also use it if someone looks like they’re having a bad day, and you want to ask them how they are doing. In this case, WSP does not necessarily mean that they’re unhappy but rather that their mood isn’t as good as usual.
I hope you enjoyed this article and you learned new ways of using the WSP abbreviation. Make sure to remember the tips listed in this article and you’ll be able to use this abbreviation in any situation.
