20 Pidgin Slangs Used In Nigeria And Their Meanings

 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.

There are slangs and codes used while conversing; these

slangs are mainly known by people who live in the

country or people who show interest in learning them.

As a result of the usage of these slangs, some of them

have become so popular and are widely used by almost

everybody in the country.

Pidgin is a language spoken by most Nigerians; it is the

break-even language as most tribes are able to speak

and understand it. Pidgin is also known as broken

English because English is the basis of the language.

Although, Warri people feel it is exclusive to them,

people from other regions in the country also speak the

language.

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.