In case you didn’t know I’m (mostly) Nigerian, and I write like I speak, so often my posts will be peppered with words and phrases that I like to call “Nigerianisms”. Here are a few that I use a lot, and some other favourites…
- Abeg – “Please” in pidgin English, but contextually more the equivalent of “puh-lease”
e.g. “abeg, I’m tired” - Before nko? – Duh
e.g. “Did Serena win the match?”, “Before, nko” - Gingered – Excited/hyped
e.g. “I’m so gingered for Friday” - How far? – How are you/How’s it going?
e.g. “Mehn, how far?”, “I’m fine oh” - I can’t come and kill myself/I can’t come and die – When something is more effort than it’s worth or cba
e.g. “I’ve been trying to do this for hours, abeg I can’t come and die” - Mehn – Mate
e.g. “Mehn, it’s hot today oh” - My money never reach – I’m not balling like that/I don’t have that kind of money
“My macbook is broken and the dude said I should buy a new one, abeg, my money never reach” - Nko – Essentially means “what about” or “how about”
e.g. “How are you doing? Your family nko?” - Oh – Added at the end of a phrase sentence, doesn’t really mean anything
e.g. “It’s late oh” - Orobo – “fuller-figured” lol
e.g. “I’m such an orobo” - See me see wahala – I’m in trouble
e.g. “…then I dropped her phone, see me see wahala” - Wahala – Trouble
e.g. “Her wahala is too much” - Which kind thing? – Wtf?
e.g. “…and then they had me on hold for 40 mins, which kind thing?!” - Who sent me? (or him/her/you) – Why did I do something that clearly wasn’t a good idea?
e.g. “I went to a crazy spin class and now my legs are on fire, who sent me?”
To my fellow Nigerians, let me know if any of your favourites are not on this list!
I don’t know why I echoed every slang in my head—with your voice 😅
Haha love this! I would add that “oh” is sometimes put at the end of the sentence to sort of exaggerate or really emphasize your point
Toasting?
I can’t take paracetamol for someone else’s headache!