Learn English – What’s the meaning of this “updog” joke

jokesmeaning-in-context

From "The Office" S2E13

Jim: Is it me or does it smell like updog in here?
Michael: What's updog?
Jim: Nothing much. What's up with you?

Where is the funny point?

Best Answer

"Dog" or "dawg" is a slang way to talk to a close friend (especially in some American cultural dialects)

So "What's up dawg?" means "How are you, mate?"

The joke is, Person A says "It smells like updog." (updog is a made up word). Person be doesn't know the meaning of "updog", so he asks "What's updog?" Person A has tricked person B into saying "What's up dawg?" in a casual slangy way. It is the trick that is the joke.

Don't try to emulate, and start calling your friends "dawg" it won't come across as natural.