wats
Very LowVery Informal / Slang
Definition
Meaning
A typographical or spoken variant, most commonly understood as a plural of the slang contraction "wat," which itself is a clipping of "what's." It typically appears in very informal digital communication to express confusion or request clarification.
In online slang, "wats" can function as a plural interrogative (e.g., "Wats happening?") or, less commonly, as a possessive (e.g., "wats up?" meaning "what is up?"). It is not recognized in formal dictionaries and exists primarily in text messages, social media, and casual online chats.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Wats" is non-standard English. Its meaning is entirely dependent on context and is a product of internet linguistics and phonetic spelling for brevity. It carries no semantic weight beyond its function as a colloquial variant of "what's" or, incorrectly, "whats."
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No substantive difference. The form arises from phonetic typing in digital environments common to both dialects.
Connotations
Conveys extreme informality, often associated with youthful, hurried, or careless digital communication. May be perceived as uneducated in formal contexts.
Frequency
Equally rare and non-standard in both varieties. Its use is dictated by individual typing habits rather than regional preference.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Wats] + [noun phrase/adjective]? (interrogative)[Wats] + [up/going on] (formulaic greeting)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Unacceptable and never used.
Academic
Unacceptable and never used.
Everyday
Only in the most casual digital texts between close friends. Not used in speech.
Technical
Unacceptable and never used.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- "Wats your name?" he typed quickly.
- "Wats this?" she asked in the chat.
- In the group chat, a message popped up: 'Wats the plan for tonight?'
- "Wats happening with the project?" he texted, forgetting to proofread.
- The tweet read 'wats the point of all this,' showcasing typical informal online discourse.
- Her hurried comment 'wats going on there??' betrayed her confusion.
- Analysing the forum post, the linguist noted the use of 'wats' as a marker of highly casual, phatic communication.
- The deliberate use of 'wats' in the meme was meant to emulate the speech patterns of a distracted teenager.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"WATS" sounds like 'WHAT'S' if you type too fast and forget the apostrophe and 'H'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A TOOL (a broken or hastily used tool for quick communication).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the Russian word 'ватс' (vats) which is a transliteration of 'Watts' (unit of power).
- It is not a real English word to be 'translated'—it is a misspelling of 'what's'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'wats' in any formal or written context.
- Assuming it is a correct plural form of 'what.'
- Pronouncing it distinctly from 'what's' in speech.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'wats' be most likely to appear?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'wats' is not a word found in standard dictionaries. It is a non-standard, phonetic spelling of the contraction 'what's,' used primarily in very informal digital writing.
Absolutely not. Using 'wats' in any formal writing, including exams, will be marked as a spelling error and will negatively impact your score.
It is pronounced identically to the standard contraction 'what's' (/wɒts/ in British English, /wɑːts/ in American English). There is no distinct pronunciation for the misspelling.
Both are common misspellings of 'what's.' 'Whats' is missing only the apostrophe, while 'wats' is missing both the apostrophe and the 'h.' Neither is correct, but 'wats' is a further deviation from standard spelling.