Use wesh when greeting friends in informal settings.
Use wesh when greeting friends in informal settings.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Je vous wesh pour la réunion. | Je vous salue pour la réunion. |
| Il wesh le document. | Il envoie le document. |
| Merci, wesh. | Merci, à plus. |
Use wesh to react to something surprising, keeping the tone informal.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Wesh, comment ça va ? | Hey, comment ça va ? |
| Wesh, c’est incroyable ! | Wow, c’est incroyable ! |
| Wesh, tu viens ? | Yo, tu viens ? |
Choose the greeting sense for casual salutations and the exclamation sense for reactions, keeping the tone informal.
Using wesh in formal emails or as a verb makes it sound awkward.
From Algerian Arabic wāš rāk ‘what’s up?’, adopted into French urban slang in the 1990s.
What does wesh mean in French?
wesh is an informal slang interjection meaning “hey”, “what’s up?” or used as an exclamation like “wow”.
Is wesh appropriate in formal writing?
No, wesh is informal and should be avoided in formal emails or documents.
Can wesh be used to show surprise?
Yes, when used as an exclamation it conveys astonishment, similar to “wow” or “whoa”.
Where does wesh come from?
wesh derives from the Algerian Arabic phrase wāš rāk ‘what’s up?’, entering French slang in the 1990s.
How is wesh pronounced?
wesh is pronounced /wɛʃ/.
Is wesh a verb?
No, wesh functions as an interjection, not a verb.
What are common synonyms for wesh?
Synonyms include “hey”, “yo”, “what’s up”, “salut”, and “coucou”.
How do French speakers use wesh in a sentence?
Example: “Salut, wesh, ça roule ?” meaning “Hey, how’s it going?”
Does wesh have regional variations?
wesh is most common in Parisian suburbs and among youth influenced by North‑African slang.