LifestyleNewsPopular Pidgin Slangs In Nigeria

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A distinctive thing about Nigeria is the global appeal of Nigerian coinages or, if you like, street slangs.

These slangs, which spring up from music or unintended statements made on the street or social media, are automatically picked up by some folks, and within a twinkle of an eye, begins to trend, and by so doing, it comes to stay as an accepted slang.

Some of these slangs have been incorporated into the dictionary, such as Oxford English and Urban dictionaries in recognition of Nigerians’ unique and distinctive contribution to English as a global language.

The recognition, no doubt, shows that Nigeria is the slang headquarters of the world.

In this piece, The West African Pilot’s Ezinwanne Onwuka spotlights a few popular and trendy slangs that has gained momentum on the streets and Nigeria’s social media space and their meanings.

How far?

How far?, an informal way of saying ‘how are you?’, ‘how is everything?’ or even ‘hi’ or ‘hello’, deserves the number one spot because it is the most common slang in Nigeria, and first-time visitors will likely hear it a lot.

Ment

The original word is ‘mental’. As slang, it is used to question a person’s sanity (you dey ment?) or to say that someone is outrightly mad (e be like say you don ment).

Breakfast

To a foreigner, this is the first meal of the day. But to a Nigerian, it is more than that. The average Nigerian takes breakfast to mean heartbreak. When someone says, “I don chop breakfast” or “I have been served breakfast”, it means the person has been disappointed. That is, their heart have been broken.

No Wahala

No wahala is a pidgin expression used for confirmation or approval. When someone says “no wahala”, it could mean ‘yes’ or ‘no problem’, or even ‘no worries’.

Mad Oh!

This is one of the popular slangs in Nigeria that has made it’s way into the Urban Dictionary. Originating from the streets of Lagos, mad oh! is an expression of surprise, shock or astonishment often caused by something unexpected or mind blowing. Example: Tinubu says he wants to step into Buhari’s shoes, mad oh!

Jack

Mostly used by students, this slang means to study hard. Example: “Omo, make I go jack for exams abeg”.

E Choke!

This is a slang that was started and popularized by famous Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido. E Choke literarily means ‘it chokes’. However, in the street language, it is an exclamatory remark for expressing intense shock or surprise. Example: I heard that Peter Obi has resigned from PDP, e choke!

Fall Hands

When someone or something disappoints you, the person or thing “don fall your hands.”

Japa

Popularized by British-Nigerian singer, Azeez Sanyaolu, professionally known as Naira Marley, japa is a Nigerian slang derived from the Yoruba language which literally means to run away from, escape, avoid, withdraw from something or someone. More importantly, it means to emigrate. I believe you now understand why government has continued to decry the japa craze among Nigerian youths.

Aza

This is slang that simply means bank account digits. When a Nigerian says “send your aza”, he or she simply means “send your account number”.

Sapa

This is another popular slang that has been trending since 2021. It is slang that describes the state of being extremely broke or unable to get what you want at that particular time you need it, usually after spending extravagantly. Once you hear, “sapa hold me”, it means the person is literally broke or could be avoiding unnecessary billing or expenses.

Blow

‘Blow’, in the Nigerian context, means to get extremely rich or hit the jackpot—legally or illegally. Example: If someone fit give me $100 million, I don blow for this life.

Hustle

The denotative meaning of hustle is to obtain something illicitly or by force. It also means to swindle. For the average Nigerian, however, hustle is to do whatever it takes to be successful—of making it against unfathomable odds. Hustle is what foreigners admire when they express their curiosity about the entrepreneurial restlessness of the Nigerians. They use weightless and sugar-coated words to describe it: industrious, enterprising, business-minded, etc. But, it is hustle! So, if you no wan make sapa hold you, go hustle so you go fit blow.

By Ezinwanne Onwuka (Senior Reporter)

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