Nigerian slang expressions to keep you street smart
We have Nollywood, we have growing global recognition as a cultural powerhouse of artistic and musical excellence, we have intellectual and literary prowess. And we have ‘Nigerian English‘, ie Nigerian slang.
Below are some of the Nigerian slang/street expressions you really should know –especially if you’re Nigerian and you want to avoid getting lost in translation when out and about. Our gratitude to the online dictionary Naijalingo for such a comprehensive collection of Nigerian slang.
A
Abro
A term of respect amongst men.
Example: ‘Abro, dis your pikin be fine.’ (‘My brother, this child of yours is good-looking.’)
B
Based on logistics
A phrase used to validate your conclusion, no matter how inconclusive.
Example: ‘I dey tire, so based on logistics I go siddon for house today; I no go wok.’ (I am tired, so I will stay at home today; I won’t be going to work.’)
Bend down boutique
An expression used to describe poor-quality or second-hand clothes.
Example: ‘Make we go for bend down boutique; I wan buy clots.’ (‘Let us go to the second-hand shop so I can buy some clothes.’)
C
Chop
Although this word is known by pretty much every Nigerian, there are several words that use ‘chop’ as a prefix that may not be as well known:
Chop cockroach: to get pregnant.
Example: ‘Ngozi don chop cockroach.’ (‘Ngozi is pregnant.’)
Chop burger: to put on weight.
Example: ‘Kemi don chop burger.’ (‘Kemi has put on weight.’)
Chop up: to increase one’s wealth or status.
Example: ‘Chinaza don chop up.’ (‘Chinaza has made it big.’)
Copy copy (also follow follow): an unoriginal person or a fake thing.
Example: ‘This one na copy copy.’ (‘This one is a fake.’)
D
Dundee United
President Trump’s favourite expression, ‘dumb as a rock’, means the same thing; we have no idea why this poor Scottish football club has had the misfortune of being picked on in this way.
Deleted
A crass word, to put it mildly, to describe someone who has been killed/died.
Example: ‘She don delete.’ (‘She is dead.’)
E
Efiko
A word used to describe someone who is very smart, intelligent, high achieving.
Example: ‘Kemi na efiko o! I go xerox from ha every time.’ (Kemi is so smart. I am going to copy from her every time.’)
Ember months
The last few months of the year
Example: ‘Everything go change in the ember months.’
F
Faaji
A common expression meaning ‘having a good time’.
Example: ‘We dey faaji for here o.’ (We are really having a good time here.’)
Felefele
A word used to describe something that is in an unstable position/ not very robust.
Example: ‘Wetin be dis felefele chair?’ (‘What kind of rickety chair is this?’)
G
G-boys (also Yahoo boys)
A word for scammers, especially those operating online.
Example: ‘This one na di G-boys wok.’ (‘ This is the work of scammers.’)
Guy-man
Meaning: a person (obviously a man) who cannot be trusted; a trickster.
Example: ‘You think say you be correct, guy-man?’
H
Hammer
Someone who has ‘hammered’ in Nigerian street slang has suddenly become very rich – illegally or illegally. Who knows?
Example: ‘Festus don hammer o!’ (Festus has made it!)
I
I don waka
A common expression to mean ‘ I’m off’ or ‘I’m going’.
J
JJC (Jonny Just Come)
A word for ‘stranger’ or for someone who is new to something.
Example: ‘This one na JJC.’ (‘This individual is not from here’ or ‘This person has no idea.’)
K
Kaka
Another word for ‘poop’.
Example: ‘De baby won go kaka.’ (‘The baby needs to poop.’)
L
Lasgidi
Another name for Lagos.
Legxus
Quite a clever phrase to describe someone who is too poor to own a car.
Example: ‘Nawa o. This your legxus no dey tire?’ (‘Oh my. Aren’t your legs tired yet?’)
Levels
Your levels are your status in society or within your group of friends.
Example: ‘We no dey for the same levels.’ (‘We are not of the same social/economic status.’)
M
Maintain
A word used to encourage someone to stay calm.
Example: ‘Abeg, maintain.’ (‘Please, calm down.’)
Mamaput
A street-side restaurant or cafe.
Example: ‘I dey go eat for mamaput.’ (‘ I am going to eat at a roadside cafe/restaurant.’)
Movement
Another way of saying, ‘let’s go’.
Example: ‘Oya, movement.’ (‘Come on, let’s go.’)
N
Number six
Common sense.
Example: ‘You dey behave like you no get number six.’ (‘You are behaving like an idiot.’)
O
OBO (Omo Baba Olowo)
Rich kid, literally ‘son of a money man’ (derogatory).
Example: ‘ He is the original OBO’ (‘He is a spoilt rich kid.’)
P
Pure Watar
Of very basic quality, ie rudimentary. The expression is also used to ask for a tip.
Example: ‘Dis na pure watar.’ (‘This is really basic.’)
Q
Quench
Another way to say ‘switch off’ or ‘be quiet’.
Example: ‘Abeg, quench yourself.’ (‘Please be quiet.’)
R
Remote control
To control a person using the dark arts.
Example: ‘She don grab him the remote control.’ (‘He is under her dark spell.’)
Rub minds
To work together
Example: ‘Oya, let us rub minds, now.’
S
Sabi sabi
A know-it-all.
Example: ‘Alaba na sabi sabi, before de man ask question finish she go answer.’ (‘Alaba is such a know-it-all. Before the man even finished asking his question she went straight to the answer.’)
T
Trafficate
This very common expression simply means to ‘indicate’ whilst driving, perhaps a derivative of ‘trafficator’.
Example: ‘Abeg, trafficate left before GT Bank.’ (‘Please indicate left before GT bank.’)
U
U dey jollof my heart
Meaning: ‘ I love you’ – such is the national adoration of jollof rice.
V
Voicemail
Conveys the sense of someone or something that is nowhere to be found, has ‘disappeared’, or has been stolen.
Example: ‘My money don enta voicemail o.’ (‘My money has vanished.’)
W
Wash
This refers to the act of celebrating something newly acquired that is being used for the first time.
Example: ‘Wen we go wash dis your Okada now?’ (‘When are we going to celebrate/toast your new Okada?’
X
Xerox
Copying someone’s work.
Example: ‘Why you dey xerox my homework?’ (‘Why are you copying my homework?’)
Y
Yaba left
If you’re asked if you have been to Yaba left, you are being asked if you have been admitted into a psychiatric hospital.
Example: ‘A a… you just dey come from Yaba left?’ (‘Have you just been discharged from the psychiatric hospital?’)
Z
Zero one zero
Refers to someone who eats just one meal a day (lunch) due to financial hardships; conveys the general sense of really struggling to make ends meet.
Example: ‘She still dey do zero one zero for one month now.’ (She has been really struggling for one month now.)
Have you used any of these phrases? Are there any other common Nigerian slang phrases that are not on here? If you enjoyed this post you’ll like this one.
