The reductions whajya and whatcha can both be used to
mean "what did you" and is an American English reduction often used in
casual conversations.
Note: Reductions
Remember the following:
Reductions are reduced forms of
English words.
Reductions, such as whajya and whatcha are
not real words in English.
You need to use reductions in
order to sound more natural.
You need to know reductions in
order to understand conversations between native
English speakers.
Reductions are used extensively
in American TV, movies, music, literature, and in
conversations among native English speakers.
Reductions In Music and TV
Jason Derulo - Whatcha Say
Jason Joel Desrouleaux (born September 21, 1989), better known by
his stage name Jason Derulo (/dəˈruːloʊ/; formerly stylised as
Derülo), is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Since the
start of his solo recording career in 2009, Derulo has sold over 30
million singles and has achieved eleven Platinum singles including
"Wiggle", "Talk Dirty", "Want to Want Me", "Trumpets", "It Girl",
"In My Head", "Ridin' Solo", and "Whatcha Say".
This video is a good example of the usage of "whajya and
whatcha",
and "gotta" English language
reductions.
Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Lyrics
Wha-wha-wha-wha-what did you say?
(J-J-J-J-J.R.)
Mmmm, whatcha say
Mmm, that you only meant well?
Well, of course you did
Mmmm, whatcha say (Jason
Derulo)
Mmmm, that it's all for the best?
Of course, it is
I (I) was so wrong (Wrong) for so long (Long)
Only tryna please myself (Myself)
Girl, I (I) was caught up (Up) in her lust (Lust)
When I don't really want no one else, so no
I know I should have treated you better (Better)
But me and you were meant to last forever (Forever)
So let me in (let me in), give me another chance
(Another chance)
To really be your man (Oh)
'Cause when the roof caved in and the truth came out
I just didn't know what to do
But when I become a star, we'll be living so large
I'll do anything for you
So tell me, girl
Mmmm, whatcha say
Mmmm, that you only meant well?
Well, of course you did
Mmmm, whatcha say (Whatcha
say, whatcha say)
Mmmm, that it's all for the best?
Of course it is
Mmmm, whatcha say
Mmmm, that you only meant well?
Well, of course you did
Mmmm, whatcha say (Whatcha
say, whatcha say)
Wha-wha-wha-wha-what did you say?
How (How) could I live (Live) with myself (Self)
Knowing that I let our love go? (Love go)
And ooh (Ooh), what I'd do (Do) with one chance (Chance)
I just gotta let you know
I know what I did wasn't clever
But me and you we're meant to be together
So let me in (Let me in), give me another chance
(Another chance)
To really be your man
'Cause when the roof caved in and the truth came out
I just didn't know what to do
But when I become a star, we'll be living so large
I'll do anything for you
So tell me, girl
Mmmm, whatcha say
Mmmm, that you only meant well?
Well of course you did
Mmmm, whatcha say (Whatcha
say, whatcha say)
Mmmm, that it's all for the best?
Of course it is
Mmmm, whatcha say
Mmmm, that you only meant well?
Well of course you did
Mmmm, whatcha say (Whatcha
say, whatcha say)
Wha-wha-wha-wha-what did you say?
Girl, tell me what to say, I (say, I)
I don't want you to leave me, though you caught me
cheating
Tell me, tell me what to say, I (say, I)
I really need you in my life 'cause things ain't right,
girl
Girl, tell me what to say, I (say, I)
I don't want you to leave me, though you caught me
cheating
Tell me, tell me what to say, I (say, I)
I really need you in my life 'cause things ain't right
'Cause when the roof caved in and the truth came out
I just didn't know what to do (I just didn't know what
to do)
But when I become a star we'll be living so large, I'll
do anything for you
So baby, whatcha say
Mmmm, whatcha say
Mmmm, that you only meant well? (Well, of course I did,
baby)
Well, of course you did
Mmmm, whatcha say (Whatcha
say, whatcha say)
Mmmm, that it's all for the best?
Of course it is (Well, of course it is)
Mmmm, whatcha say (What
did you say?)
Mmmm, that you only meant well?
Well of course you did (Whoa-oh-oh-oh)
Mmmm, whatcha say (Whatcha
say, whatcha say)
Wha-wha-wha-wha-what did you say?
Additional Lessons
About These
Lessons
The following classroom lessons are great for students
who want additional listening and reading practice.
Travel America -
Beginner
Level. Do you love America and American
English? Learn before you travel. Facts and other
cool stuff about your favorite U.S. state. Great
English reading practice.
Travel
America - Hawaii
(Beginner -
Reading)
Learn some interesting facts and read interesting
stories about Hawaii.
Hawaii
Known as the "Aloha State" (in Hawaiian, "aloha" can
mean "hello"), Hawaii is a group of volcanic islands
in the central Pacific Ocean that together became
the 50th state in 1959. The state's name is possibly
derived from a native Hawaiian word for homeland,
hawaiki or owhyhee. Today, Hawaii, whose capital is
Honolulu, is often called the "Crossroads of the
Pacific" and is a popular vacation spot. The
colorful hibiscus is the state flower.
Hawaii
State Flag
The flag of Hawai'i resembles the Union Jack of
Great Britain because many of King Kamehameha's advisors
were British and the islands were once placed under
England's protection.
Eight horizontal stripes represent the eight major islands
of Hawai'i. This flag has served as the flag of the kingdom,
republic, territory, and the state of Hawai'i.
Ua mau ke ea o ka aina I ka pono (The life of the
land is perpetuated in righteousness.)
Statehood
August 21, 1959 (50th)
Origin of Name
Possibly based on native Hawaiian word for homeland,
"Owhyhee."
Largest Cities
Honolulu, Hilo, Kailua, Kaneohe, Pearl City
Border States
None
Area
6,423 sq. mi.; 47th largest
State Bird
Nene (Hawaiian goose)
State Flower
Pua Aloalo (hibiscus brackenridgei)
State Tree
Kukui - Candlenut (aleurites moluccana)
State Song
Hawaii Ponoi - Hawaii's Own
Travel and tourism site
for Hawaii - This state travel and territorial tourism
site provides ideas for your vacations, meetings, and more.
Hawaii Stories
King Kamehameha Celebration
Did you know that a long line of monarchs once ruled Hawaii? King
Kamehameha I was one member of this royal line. He was born in North
Kohala on the island of Hawaii, and it's estimated that he was born
between 1748 and 1761. His childhood was spent in seclusion with
foster parents who trained him in the skills of warfare and prepared
him for his role as warrior-king of the island nation.
Although Kamehameha lived at the same time as Napoleon and George
Washington, they were very different kinds of rulers, mainly because
of how different their cultures were. During King Kamehameha I's
reign, there was no written language, and the Polynesian religion
that was practiced was called Hoomana. This religion was based on a
group of gods similar to those of the Romans and Greeks.
Kamehameha I was a very successful king and ruled in peace. He
accomplished a great deal by establishing trade with foreign
countries, introducing new animal and plant life, and promoting
agriculture and industry.
King Kamehameha I died in 1819. Today, every June 11, the giant
statue of King Kamehameha shown here is decorated and festivities
include parades on every island, arts and crafts fairs, sports
challenges, pageantry, and an international hula competition.
Okinawan Festival
Can you guess where this young Taiko performer might get some andagi,
ashitibichi, and yaki soba?
If you guessed Japan, you're close! Many Japanese people (over
125,000) moved from Japan to Hawaii in search of a better life.
They, along with other Asian immigrants, were often employed to work
on sugar plantations. Today, there is a strong Japanese culture in
Hawaii and it is celebrated with the Okinawan Festival. So, if
you're eating andagi you're eating deep-fried doughnuts, if you're
eating ashitibichi, you're eating pig's feet soup, and if you're
eating yaki soba you're eating noodles stir-fried with vegetables
and meat. These are all delicious Okinawan-style dishes that you can
try at the festival held each year at Kapiolani Park in the middle
of Waikiki.
Along with traditional Okinawan dishes, visitors can experience all
kinds of traditional Okinawan culture and arts. The festival
includes a parade with a paranku procession. A paranku is a small
hand-held drum used in folk performing art called eisa. Other
traditional Okinawan musical instruments include the taiko (drum),
sanshin (lute) and the koto (zither). Have you ever seen any of
these instruments? There is also the Obon, a dance performed by
large groups of men, women and children of all ages.
Hawaiian Canoe
Have you ever been in a canoe? Can you imagine traveling across the
ocean in one? When Captain James Cook asked, "How shall we account
for this nation having spread itself to so many detached islands so
widely disjoined from each other in every quarter of the Pacific
Ocean?" as early as the 18th century, he was wondering specifically
about the Polynesian people. How did they get to so many islands
spread so far apart? Perhaps the answer lies in the Hawaiian canoe.
Canoes served several purposes for early Hawaiians. Can you guess
what some of them might be? Smaller canoes were used for traveling
around the islands, while larger canoes were used for long-distance
traveling or warfare. Fishing was also done from canoes. And, just
like today, canoes were used for sports and recreation.
Hawaiian canoes were made of acacia koa, a tree that is now very
scarce. Canoes were historically built by master craftsmen who
oversaw all aspects of the process, from selecting the trees to
getting the boat into the water. Lashing, or binding, of the pieces
of wood was done with coconut or vegetable fiber.
Ching Ming Tradition in Hawaii
How do you honor your ancestors? If you were Chinese, you might
celebrate Ching Ming.
Dating back 3,000 years, the practice of Ching Ming is still
observed worldwide by Chinese families. Ching means "pure" or
"clean"; ming means "brightness." The words together are applied to
a Chinese tradition that helps explain why respect for elders is
such an important part of the Chinese culture. Many Chinese believe
that a person's good fortune or misfortune comes from his or her
ancestors; that all departed ancestors still have the same physical
needs they had when alive; and that the departed can assist their
relatives on Earth.
Today, Ching Ming is celebrated every April 4 in Hawaii and involves
the cleaning, repairing and replanting of ancestral gravesites. In
Hawaii, the practice has a stronger presence than in other parts of
the United States. Ceremonies involve preparing foods as a symbol of
earthly possessions and laying them out on the grave. These foods
may include fruit, rice, chicken, pork, cakes and tea. A meal may be
eaten at the gravesite as a gesture of sharing with deceased
relatives. Other customs include burning incense, offering prayers
and burning symbolic paper. It is not necessarily a time of sadness,
but one of reflection, remembrance and communion with past
generations.
Portuguese Holy Ghost Festival and
Traditional Practices
Portuguese immigrants first came to Hawaii in the late 1800s to work
in the sugar cane fields. They brought their culture with them, and
since 1901, the Feast of the Holy Ghost has been celebrated in
Hawaii. This feast originated centuries ago with the sixth Queen of
Portugal, Isabel. It is a Catholic celebration that proclaims the
faith of the Portuguese and their devotion to the Holy Ghost, the
member of the Holy Trinity now referred to as the Holy Spirit.
For each of the seven Saturdays leading up to the feast, known as
Domingas, a different historical or religious figure is honored. The
highlight of the entire event is a three-day festival that begins on
the Friday night just before the Seventh Dominga, the "Blessing of
the Meat and Bread," in which a portion of beef and bread -- the "Pensao"
-- is blessed by a priest and distributed to each member present.
Following the tradition of charity and feeding the poor, a bowl of
soup or stew is served to everyone. On Saturday night, participants
decorate religious statues in preparation for the Sunday Mass. A
woman is chosen to represent Queen Isabel, and she and her court
join a procession. At the end of the Mass, the priest crowns the
Holy Ghost Queen.
Prince Lot Hula Festival
Did you know that you can tell stories with a dance? That's what the
kids in the photo are doing when they do the hula, a traditional
dance of Hawaii. The hula combines flowing movement with facial
expressions, all set to special chants and music. When hula began it
was a form of worship.
Prince Lot Kapu`aiwa kept the hula alive in Hawaii at a time when
interest in it was fading. Can you guess how he did it? The prince,
who later became Kamehameha V, King of Hawaii from 1863 to 1872, was
noted for his energy and strength of will. One of his interests was
to promote and preserve Hawaiian culture, especially the hula. He
did this by holding hula performances at his cottage in Moanalua. To
many, the hula represents Hawaiians' view of the world.
In appreciation of Prince Lot's efforts to preserve Hawaiian
culture, the Prince Lot Hula Festival was established in 1978. Each
year na halau (hula schools) come to the festival to perform at
Moanalua Gardens in Honolulu. This festival also includes other
Hawaiian activities and exhibits such as hand-stitched quilts,
leaf-weaving demonstrations to make hats and baskets,
instrument-making and lei-making (a lei is a necklace of flowers).
Even Royalty Surfs in Hawaii
Did you know that in Hawaii's early days, when it was ruled by
royalty, even kings and queens surfed?
Surfing is considered part of modern American pop culture, but the
sport actually developed centuries ago in Polynesia in the Pacific
Ocean. It was later brought to Hawaii in the eighth century.
Petroglyphs (rock paintings) have been found in Hawaii that show
early Hawaiians riding the waves. British explorer Captain James
Cook made the first mention of surfing in print in his account of
his journey through the Pacific Ocean. Even the early kings and
queens of Hawaii participated in the sport. American writers Mark
Twain and Jack London are known to have tried surfing. Duke
Kahanamoku, who was born in Hawaii, was a gold medalist in swimming
at the 1912 Olympic Games. He is commonly credited with the rise in
popularity of surfing in the 20th century.
The following is a description of national
parks and monuments in the state
of Hawaii. There are no national forests in
this state. If you plan to visit or live in
Hawaii for awhile then you should definitely
plan to visit some of these fantastic
places.
National Parks
Haleakalā
The Haleakalā volcano on Maui features a
very large crater with numerous cinder
cones, Hosmer's Grove of alien trees, the
Kipahulu section's scenic pools of
freshwater fish, and the native Hawaiian
goose. The park protects the greatest number
of endangered species within a U.S. National
Park.
Hawaiʻi
Volcanoes
This park on the Big Island protects the
Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, two of the
world's most active geological features.
Diverse ecosystems range from tropical
forests at sea level to barren lava beds at
more than 13,000 feet (4,000 m).
National Monuments
Honouliuli
Comprises the grounds of the Honouliuli
Internment Camp on the island of Oahu. It
was the largest and longest-operating
facility used for Japanese American
internment in the United States.
Papahānaumokuākea
Marine
The marine monument consists of ocean waters
and 10 islands and atolls of the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands including
Midway Atoll (which is the site of the
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge). The
monument was created in 2006 with 139,797
square miles (362,070 km2), and its
boundaries were expanded on August 26, 2016,
more than quadrupling in size to a total
area of 582,578 square miles (1,508,870
km2). It is the largest protected area on
Earth, and is almost the size of the Gulf of
Mexico. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
archipelago "is the planet's largest seabird
gathering site, with more than 14 million
birds from 22 species, and is home to nearly
all Laysan albatrosses and the remaining
endangered Hawaiian monk seals." It was
declared a World Heritage Site in 2010.
World
War II Valor in the Pacific
Valor in the Pacific encompasses nine sites
in three states associated with World War
II: The Attack on Pearl Harbor, including
the USS Arizona, Utah, and Oklahoma
memorials in Hawaii; the Aleutian Islands
Campaign on Attu Island, Kiska Island, and
Atka Island in Alaska; and the Japanese
American internment at Tule Lake War
Relocation Center in California. This
national monument is also partially located
in the state of Alaska and California.
Do you love America and American English? Learn before
you travel. Facts and other cool stuff about your
favorite U.S. state. Visit the Fun Easy English Travel
America pages. Read about the beautiful National
Forests, Parks, and Monuments. Great English reading practice.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
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Audio Program
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The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
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Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
Hey Students,
Use this dictionary and reference to look up any words you do not
understand in Fun Easy English.
Hawaii
State Facts
