Expression: "What's new?"

[Tom]

Hi,

I am curious about the answer to the expression "What's new?". Strictly speaking, it means "How are you?". So, I think the answer may be "I am fine". Am I wrong? Dear Amy, what would you say if I asked you "What's new?"?

ps: Is it necessary to write WHAT'S? Cant we write WHAT IS ?

Thanks in advance

Tom

[Mister Micawber]

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What's new? does not mean How are you?; it means What interesting new personal experience have you had since we last met?. The response is not I'm fine, but varies. A common response is Oh, not much, but usually the respondent has some bit of news, like I went shopping yesterday or even I'm getting married!

What is does not fit the casualness of the expression, and the contraction (what's) reflects much better how the phrase is spoken.
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

I agree 100% with Mr. Micawber.

The only thing I might add is that, among friends, "What's new?" sometimes simply replaces the question "How are you?"

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Tom]

Thank you, Sir

[Tom]

Thank you, Amy

You and Mr. Micawber made it very simple to understand.

Just one more question:

When the intended meaning is "HOW ARE YOU?", can we say, "I am fine."?

Waiting

Tom

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

Here are some possible answers to the question "How are you?"

Standard/formal:
Fine, thanks. And you?

(Do not say "I am fine." )

Friendly/informal: (*)
Great!
Not bad.
Couldn't be better!
Never better!
Just fine.
(There are any number of other possibilities.)

(*) Similar to the standard format, there could be a "thanks" added and there is normally a follow-up question.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Alan]

Hi Amy,

Bit mystified at this:

[Yankee]

Hi Alan

Would you actually say that as a response to the run-of-the-mill question "How are you?"? I wouldn't. The most I might say is "I'm fine."

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Alan]

Hi Amy,

I think I would but would also go for the contraction I'm fine.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
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