Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.
Wa!
(postposition, Japanese)
The Japanese postposition (like a preposition except after a word) "wa" is the topic marker, which identifies the topic (duh) of the sentence. The literal meaning is "As for (noun)." Usually the topic and the subject are the same thing, but only if the topic has already been introduced; otherwise, you use the subject marker "ga." Additionally, "wa" can be used to indicate contrast or emphasis of the subject. The way "wa" is being used depends on context and intonation.
The Japanese postposition (like a preposition except after a word) "wa" is the topic marker, which identifies the topic (duh) of the sentence. The literal meaning is "As for (noun)." Usually the topic and the subject are the same thing, but only if the topic has already been introduced; otherwise, you use the subject marker "ga." Additionally, "wa" can be used to indicate contrast or emphasis of the subject. The way "wa" is being used depends on context and intonation.
Topic: Watashi wa koukousei desu. ("I am a high school student.")
Contrast: Biiru wa nomimasu ga, wain wa nomimasen. ("I drink beer, but I don't drink wine.")
As an aside: Wa is not a verb; verbs are always at the end of a sentence in Japanese. Wa is not the Japanese copula, "desu" is; all wa does is tell you what the hell is being talked about. Don't be stupid and think of it any other way.
Contrast: Biiru wa nomimasu ga, wain wa nomimasen. ("I drink beer, but I don't drink wine.")
As an aside: Wa is not a verb; verbs are always at the end of a sentence in Japanese. Wa is not the Japanese copula, "desu" is; all wa does is tell you what the hell is being talked about. Don't be stupid and think of it any other way.
wa by whatdoyoucare July 17, 2006
WA by i don't know who i am!! April 24, 2007
Short for Wife Alert! When you and a friend are IM-ing, and the wife walks in the room, you give the friend a heads up by typing WA, WA, WA!!!
WA by turnerbrown August 24, 2004
Wa by wainfanator November 29, 2013
More from Urban Dictionary
piddlefart
piddlefart by Rene April 25, 2005
Word of the Day on October 9, 2026
wrongun
anyone who succeeds in disgracing/over indulging themselves in the throws of clubland
square grouper
Nickname given to bales of marijuana thrown overboard or out of airplanes. Origin is reportedly from members of the US Coast Guard in the area of Southern Florida.
square grouper by slipsheet November 6, 2004
Word of the Day on October 7, 2026
Bunhead
A girl who does ballet and only talks about ballet. Her schedule is filled with dance classes which does not allow her to do any other activity.
trucker's tan
A sunburn or suntan focused on the left arm. It is caused by the left side of the body being the only half that gets exposed to sunlight while driving. Presumably, it would be located on the right side of the body in countries where they drive on the left side of the road.
trucker's tan by population361 May 30, 2006
Word of the Day on October 5, 2026
kidulting
Every time I walk into the toy aisle, I catch myself kidulting over the latest action figures and LEGO sets!
kidulting by Emotional Cruiser October 12, 2025
Word of the Day on October 4, 2026