English grammar
What's up? / you alright? — everyday idioms
Understand and use everyday informal English.
From the scene What's up?
In short
What's up? and You alright? are casual greetings, not real questions. A brew is a cup of tea.
Your turn
Which one goes with dropping 'are' informally?
Options: You alright? · What's up? · It's a greeting, mate.
Show answer
dropping 'are' informally → You alright?
How it works
What's up and (are) you alright are casual greetings, not real questions that need a full answer.
Good to know
A brew is British slang for a cup of tea - easy to mishear as something stronger!
informal greeting What's up?
Javi
Hello, Mum? What's up?
¿Hola, mamá? ¿Qué pasa?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Hello, Mum? (blank)?
Options: It's a greeting · What's up · You alright
Show answer
Javi
Hello, Mum? What's up?
¿Hola, mamá? ¿Qué pasa?
dropping 'are' informally You alright?
Javi
And you, Mum, you alright?
Y usted, mami, ¿cómo está?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And you, Mum, (blank)?
Options: What's up · It's a greeting · you alright
Show answer
Javi
And you, Mum, you alright?
Y usted, mami, ¿cómo está?
explaining slang It's a greeting, mate.
Javi
It's a greeting, mate. Like 'how are you?'.
Es un saludo, parce. Como "¿qué tal?".
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Like 'how are you?'.
Options: What's up · You alright · It's a greeting, mate
Show answer
Javi
It's a greeting, mate. Like 'how are you?'.
Es un saludo, parce. Como "¿qué tal?".
a brew = a cup of tea We'll wait downstairs with a brew.
Javi
Right, Mum, we'll wait downstairs with a brew.
Vale, mamá, te esperamos abajo con un "brew" (un té).
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Right, Mum, (blank).
Options: we'll wait downstairs with a brew · What's up · You alright
Show answer
Javi
Right, Mum, we'll wait downstairs with a brew.
Vale, mamá, te esperamos abajo con un "brew" (un té).
Common mistake
Not beer or brewery here. A cup of tea, not what Nuria thinks!
Right, Mum, we'll wait downstairs with a brew.
Vale, mamá, te esperamos abajo con un "brew" (un té).
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| informal greeting | What's up? |
|---|---|
| dropping 'are' informally | You alright? |
| explaining slang | It's a greeting, mate. |
| a brew = a cup of tea | We'll wait downstairs with a brew. |
More lines from the story
- JaviIt's just friendly, love, not rude.Es solo una forma cariñosa, cielo, no es de mala educación.
- JaviYeah, Mum, it's all good here.Sí, mami, todo muy chévere por acá.