wosson

a very popular word throughout the westcountry area of the uk, especially cornwall. wosson is the westcountry equivalent to what’s up and is coupling of the two words – “what’s on”. it is usually asked as a question to find out one or all of the following;

1. what are you doing?
2. what have you been doing?
3. what are you going to be doing?
4. how are you?

the most polite answer you can possibly give to a cornish person asking this question is;

“not much, wosson on with you?”

this implies the person asking the question has more important things going on in his/her life than you have, and copious amounts of tea should be drunk (or local ale) until these important things are discussed.
example 1
denzel: “wosson janner?”
janner: “not much, wosson with you?”
denzel: “not much janner, wosson with you?”
janner: “not much den, wosson with you?”
etc, etc, etc, denzel & janner are very good mates & neither want to seem more important than the other.

example 2
jethro: “wosson on gyp?”
gyp: “just nipping down barnies for a pasty, you want anything?”
jethro: “‘ang on a minute an’ i’ll come with ‘ee!”
gyp: “proper job!”

example 3
boysie: “wosson maid?”
gabby: “not much, still trying to get over the xmas hangover!”
boysie: “but that was 6 months ago gab, what the bl–dy h-ll’s wrong with you?”
gabby: “i know, i’m such a girl! anyway, wosson with you?”