what do you want

English

English phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness. For other English entries on this topic, see Greetings.

Phrase

what do you want

1. (informal) Indicates that the listener is paying attention to the speaker, and wishes to know why they were approached or interrupted.

   Synonyms: (informal) what, what is it, (informal) yeah, yes

2. (informal) A rude greeting, implying that the speaker does not wish to engage in formalities.

Translations

to indicate that the listener is paying attention

• Chinese:

  Cantonese: 咩呀？ (me¹ aa³?)

  Mandarin: ^{(please verify)} 咋了？ (zǎ le?)

• Finnish: mitä nyt?, mitä haluat? (literal)
• Jamaican Creole: weh yuh waan
• Japanese: なんでしょう? (nandeshō?)
• Malay: kamu mau apa?
• Marathi: काय हवं आहे? (kāy hava āhe?), तुला काय हवं आहे? (tulā kāy hava āhe?), तुम्हाला काय हवं आहे? (tumhālā kāy hava āhe?)