Nigerian Language and Slang
The official language in Nigeria is English. Nigeria is blessed with a diverse community of ethnic groups that each have their own dialects, however, the major local languages in Nigeria are Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa, all spoken in given parts of the country.
History
Yoruba is spoken in South Western Nigeria, by a collection of people who are united in a common belief that the spiritual city of Ile-ife is their place of origin and that the Alaafin of Oyo is their spiritual leader. You will hear a lot of Igbo in the South Eastern part of the country, a region they call home.
Hausa too is majorly spoken in the north (North East, North Central and North West), which has been the case since the time of Lord Lugard.
In far South Nigeria, you will hear a bit of Igbo but 99% of the languages spoken are minorities like Efik, Edo, Esan, Ibibio, Ukwuani, Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, Kalabari… the list is endless.
Basic Greetings
English|Yoruba
Good morning|Ekuojumo
Goodnight|Odaaro
How are you?|Se daadaa ni?
Thank you|Ese/Ose
Getting around town
English|Yoruba
I need a cab|Mo fe taxi
Call me a cab|Pe taxi fun mi
Is it far?|Se o jinna ni?
Driver, you’re going too fast|Driver, ere yin ti poju gan
Shopping
English|Yoruba
How is the market?|Bawo loja
What are you selling?|Ki le n ta
How much is it?|Elo ni?
What is your final price?|Elo ni jale?
I want to buy rice|Mo fe ra iresi
Numbers
|Yoruba
1|Okan
2|Meji
3|Meta
4|Merin
5|Marun
6|Mefa
7|Meje
8|Mejo
9|Mesan
10|Mewa
Days of The Week
English|Yoruba
Monday|Ojo aje
Tuesday|Ojo isegun
Wednesday|Ojo ru
Thursday|Ojo bo
Friday|Ojo eti
Saturday|Ojo abameta
Sunday|Ojo aiku
Useful words
English|Yoruba
What’s your name/My name is|Kini oruko re?/ Oruko mi ni(your name)
I do not understand|Ko ye mi
I want to see a doctor|Mo fe ri dokita
Where can I get food?|Nibo ni mo le ra ounje?
Where can I change money?|Nibo mo le ti se owo
Help me|Ran mi lowo
Stop|Ma shebe
yoruba
English| Igbo
Good morning|Igbolachi
Goodnight|Kachifo
How are you?|kedu ka idi?
Thank you|Dalu
Getting around town
English|Igbo
I need a cab|Achorom ugbo ala
Call me a cab|Kporom ugbo ala
Is it far?|O tere anya?
Driver, you’re going too fast|Driver, e na gba oke oso
Shopping
English|Igbo
How is the market?|Kedu maka ahai?
What are you selling?|Gini ka i n’ere
How much is it?|Ego ole ka obu?
What is your final price?|Gini bu ezigbo onu ya?
I want to buy rice|Achomi gote osikapa
Numbers
|Igbo
1|Otu
2|Abou
3|Ato
4|Ano
5|Ise
6|Isii
7|Asaa
8|Asato
9|Iteghete/itolu
10|Iri
Days of The Week
English|Igbo
Monday|Monde
Tuesday|Tuzde
Wednesday|Wenesday
Thursday|Tosde
Friday|Fraide
Saturday|Satude
Sunday|Uka
Useful words
Igo
English|Hausa
Good morning|Ina kwana
Goodnight|Said a safe
How are you?|Kana Lafiya?
Thank you|Nagode
Getting around town
English|Hausa
I need a cab|Ina son motar haya
Call me a cab|Kira mun motar haya
Is it far?|Yana da nisa?
Driver, you’re going too fast|Dreba, kana gudu sosai
Shopping
English|Hausa
How is the market?|Ya ya kasua
What are you selling?|Me ka ke sayarwa?
How much is it?|Nawa ne?
What is your final price?|Nawa ne gaskiya?
I want to buy rice|Zan sayi rice
Numbers
|Hausa
1|Daya
2|Biyu
3|Uku
4|Hudu
5|Biyar
6|Shida
7|Bakwai
8|Takwas
9|Tara
10|Goma
Days of The Week
English|Hausa
Monday|Luttinin
Tuesday|Talata
Wednesday|Laraba
Thursday|Alhamis
Friday|Jummaa
Saturday|Asabar
Sunday|Lahadi
Useful words
English|Igbo
What’s your name/My name is|kedu afa gi?/Aham bu(your name)
I do not understand|A ghota ghim
I want to see a doctor|achoro m ihu Dokinta
Where can I get food?|Ole ebem ga enweta nri?
Where can I change money?|Kedu ebem ga agbanwe ego?
Help me|Nyelu mu aka
Stop|Kwusi
English|Hausa
What’s your name/My name is|Yaya sunanka?/ Suna sa(your name)
I do not understand|Ban fahimta ba
I want to see a doctor|Ina son ganin likita
Where can I get food?|A ina zan samu abinci
Where can I change money?|A ina zan iya chanza kudi
Help me|Ka taimake ni
Stop|Ka tsaya
Slang
Pidgin or broken English is a mixture of English and Nigerian words used casually in conversations. Some English words here lose their original meanings so there can be confusion. Pidgin is one way to feel a sense of belonging with the locals. It can also get you a good discount while shopping at a market simply because you talk like one of us.
Here’s a few to get you started in grasping local slang to ease your communication.
Abi? – frequently used slang, meaning ‘isn’t it?’
Wahala – trouble; ‘no wahala’ means no trouble or no worries
How Now? – a common greeting meaning ‘How are things?’
How Body? – means ‘How are you?’
Wetin: – means ‘what’. As in: ‘Wetin you dey talk?’ = ‘What did you say?’
Oga – this means a big man or boss
Okada – a motorbike commonly used as a taxi
Oyinbo – ‘white person’: you will hear this everywhere. This originally meant ‘white man’ or ‘white woman’, but has slipped into Pidgin to mean something along the lines of ‘foreigner’. There is no insult intended in its usage as it is just a common way of referring to foreigners.
Pikin – a small child
Yansh – your backside, your butt, your derriere
Dash – commonly used to mean a bribe but can also be used to describe a tip or a gift.
Drop – means to get off a bus or taxi, but if you want a taxi to yourself (with no other passengers) you want a drop taxi.
Go-slow – traffic jam
Moto – any kind of vehicle, but usually used to refer to a car or taxi
Pure water – half-litre plastic bags of (not always good) drinking water sold everywhere
Small chops – snack
Sorry-o – expression of sympathy
Suya – barbecued meat, often served on sticks
