There is no doubt Nigeria is a
country with diverse tribes;
these tribes have their own
culture and do things that are
exclusive to them. it is also
possible for a tribe in Nigeria
to say something and get
people outside the tribe
looking lost.
In major cities like Lagos,
Abuja and Portharcourt, it is
very rare for one to move round
without speaking pidgin or
hearing some pidgin slangs.
Since we have given you a piece
on some of the popular slangs
used in Nigeria and what they
mean, we would be checking out
some of the pidgin slangs used
in Nigeria and what they mean.
Find some of the pidgin slangs
below:
1. Fall my hand
This is a popular slang in
Nigeria. When the speaker says
no go fall my hand, he or she
means she does not want to be
disappointed. Nigerians often
use this phrase when conversing
with one another.
2. I go change am for you
As funny as this pidgin slang
sounds, it usually heard when
the speaker is giving out words
of warning. This is the speaker’s
way of asking someone to be
careful and not get him or her
angry.
When you hear this phrase in
Nigeria, do not think the
speaker is talking about change;
it could also be used in another
context where the speaker is
being lenient and is talking
about replacing an object.
3. Pepper don red
This is another popular slangs
Nigerian use while
communicating. When this
phrase is being used when
talking about a person, it means
the person’s luck has changed
and the person is richer.
4. Baff up
When Nigerians use this slang,
they are talking about someone
being nicely dressed. Baff up
could be substituted for Kak up
which means the same thing.
When this pidgin slang is heard,
the speaker is commending the
dress sense of a person.
5. Bust my skeroo
When this pidgin slang is heard,
the speaker is obviously a Warri
person or someone affiliated to
that part of the country. This
means to blow one’s mind. The
speaker is obviously amazed or
wowed by something.
6. Yan
This means talk or gist.
Sometimes the speaker could
say wetin you dey yan? This
means what are you talking
about? It is a slang used by
most Nigerians when pidgin is
being spoken.
7. Crash
This is another popular pidgin
slang used in Nigeria. Although
the word itself is an English
word, when it is being strung
along with other pidgin words, it
means to sleep. It is talking
about the speaker’s tiredness
and the need to rest or sleep.
8. You dey kolo
This means someone is crazy.
This means whoever the
speaker is referring to needs to
have his or her head checked.
It is a popular slang in Nigeria
and people often use it while
teasing themselves about a
particular situation or thing.
9. Yanga or effizy
This slang means to be
boisterous or pompous. It is
quite possible for someone who
does not understand pidgin or
the slangs used in Nigeria to be
completely lost while he or she
is being analyzed with this
language.
As a result of the popularity of
this slang, a Nigerian who reside
in his home country would
understand this.
10. Fabu
Oh boy no dey give me that kind
fabu. This sentence is warning
someone off lying. Fabu means
lie; and as used in the example
above, it means the speaker is
aware of the gist being fake
and is expressing his or her
disbelief.
11. Gbege
Gbege means trouble. It could
be used along with some other
words or said as is it is. it could
be substituted with the word
‘gobe’ which means the same
thing. Nigerians often use it
while conversing.
12. Demor
This means to show off; some
Nigerians indeed like to pose or
demor with things that do not
belong to them. This means to
act up and pretend to be
something one is not.
13. The shenkiz dem jst dey
matrix
The word shenkiz or cury is
used to refer to ladies or girls.
This pidgin slang as expressed
above means the girls are
tripping. The speaker must have
identified a group of girls who
are interested in him or
something he has.
14. Jones
Do not mistake this word for
the name of a person even
though it is in reality. When
this is used as slang, it is talking
about someone or a group of
people not being smart in a
particular situation. Babe, you
don jones. The speaker is
talking about someone not
seizing the opportunity where
he or she ought to.
15. Shak up
This slang means to be drunk or
to consume a large amount of
alcohol. The word could also be
substituted for the word ‘shayo’
which means the same thing.
16. Jack
This slang is popularly used
among students in Nigeria. It
means to read.
17. Waka
Waka means to walk. Whatever
follows this slang would now
indicate how fast or slow the
person being talked about is
moving. When the word is being
duplicated, it could mean
aimless movement around the
town.
18. All join
When you hear this pidgin slang,
it is talking about a collective
item or group of things. It
means everything is included.
19. Aproko
This is slang means to gossip.
Anybody who is fond of talking
about other people’s businesses
and affairs is labelled as an
aproko.
20. Sort
When this slang is being used
while speaking pidgin it means
to bribe someone. When police
officers ask drivers to sort
them while driving, they want to
be bribed.
