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Oxford https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/wassup

Collins https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/wassup

"Wassup" stands for "What is up?" and "is" is pronounced "iz" so I think "wassup" should be pronounced /ˈwɒzʌp/. Any ideas?

emeraldhieu
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    Do you really think that "wassup" comes directly from "what is up", rather than via "what's up"? – ruakh Feb 02 '18 at 08:01
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    (Though FWIW, I do often hear it with a [z] sound; it's common in many languages for intervocalic /s/ become voiced.) – ruakh Feb 02 '18 at 08:04
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    I have never heard anyone say “What is up?” with an actual [ɪz], except that very blonde, white girl from Not Another Teen Movie (I think?) who tries to speak ‘black’ and fails miserably precisely because she says it as three words. If you really think wassup comes from the basically nonexistent “What is up?”, and not from the infinitely more common “What’s up?” (which has an unvoiced [s]), I think you’ll have to dig up some supporting evidence. – Janus Bahs Jacquet Feb 02 '18 at 08:25
  • @JanusBahsJacquet How about this beer commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJmqCKtJnxM – Barmar Feb 02 '18 at 09:05
  • OK I've got it. Because "wassup" is "what's up" and "what's" is pronounced "/wɑːts/". The next question may be "Why does "what's" end with "s" sound but not "z"?". https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/what-s – emeraldhieu Feb 02 '18 at 09:09
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    @Emerald214 For the answer to that question, see here! – Araucaria - Him Feb 02 '18 at 09:17

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