The Nigerian Directory

A

Abeg – Please

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Abeg, help me carry this bag.

Ajebo – Someone from a wealthy background

• • • • Origin: Yoruba + Pidgin
      • Example: That guy na Ajebo, he no sabi street life.

Akamu – Pap (fermented corn pudding), also means “dull” in slang

• • • • Origin: Igbo
      • Example: That guy just dey do akamu, he no get sense.

Alaye – Boss, street-wise person

• • • Origin: Yoruba
    • Example: Alaye, you fit help me with small change?

Abobi – Friend, guy, or dude

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Abobi, how far na?
      

Aza – Bank account (for receiving money)

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Baba, send me your aza make I wire you something.

B

Baff Up – To dress well

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: You go baff up for that party o!

Baba – A respected person or boss

• • • • Origin: Yoruba
      • Example: Baba, abeg reason me na.

Burst My Head – To impress or amaze someone

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: That movie burst my head!

Bad Belle – Hater or someone jealous

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Make bad belle no spoil my shine.

Bobo – Boy, guy, or lover

• • • Origin: Yoruba
    • Example: That bobo too fine!

Bone That Matter – Forget about it

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Bone that matter, e no concern us.

C

Chop – To eat or gain something

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: I don chop my salary finish.

Comot – Leave or go away

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Abeg comot for here!

Carry Last – To be left behind or be the worst at something

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Naija no dey carry last!

Chop Breakfast – To get heartbroken

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: That babe don leave am, e don chop breakfast.

D

Dey Your Dey – Mind your business

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Guy, dey your dey abeg.

Doll – To slack or waste time

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: No doll for this hustle o.

Dash Me – Give me something for free

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Abeg, dash me that your wristwatch.

Dey Play – Sarcastic way of calling someone unserious

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: You think say life na joke? Dey play.

Dunno – I don’t know (used casually in speech)

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Where that guy dey? Dunno o!

E

E Go Be – It will be fine

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: No worry, e go be.

E Sure For You? – Are you sure?

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: You talk say you go win? E sure for you?

E Choke – Something overwhelming or surprising

• • • • Origin: Popularized by Davido (Pidgin English)
      • Example: See crowd! E choke!

F

Farabale – Calm down, relax

• • • • Origin: Yoruba
      • Example: Oga, farabale make we reason am well.

Fashi – Forget about it, ignore

• • • • Origin: Yoruba + Pidgin
      • Example: Fashi that guy, he no serious.

Flex – Enjoy life, have fun

• • • • Origin: English/Pidgin
      • Example: Make we go flex for club tonight.

Follow Come – Something that originally came with an item (default feature)

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: This phone charger na follow come.

Faint – To disappear quickly

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Before police come, I go faint comot.

Famz – To claim closeness to someone famous

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: See as that guy just dey famz Wizkid!

G

Gbam – Exactly! Confirmed!

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: That thing wey you talk na true, gbam!

Gbe Body – Move your body, dance

• • • • Origin: Yoruba + Pidgin
      • Example: DJ, play better jam make we gbe body.

Ginger – To motivate or hype up someone

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: I need ginger to finish this work.

Gbas Gbos – Chaos, fight, or heated argument

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: The party scatter when gbas gbos start.

Gbese – Big trouble or debt

• • • Origin: Yoruba
    • Example: You don enter gbese o!

Gbo Gbo Bigz Girl – A girl acting rich or classy

• • • Origin: Yoruba + Pidgin
    • Example: That babe na gbo gbo bigz girl.

H

Hammer – To become successful or rich

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: I go hammer this year by God’s grace.

Hustle – Hard work or struggle to make money

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Hustle o, make you no go beg for street.

Hold Body – Be strong, persevere

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: No matter wetin happen, just hold body.

H Factor – Inability to pronounce words correctly (common in Yoruba accent)

• • • Origin: Yoruba
    • Example: This guy H-factor no be here!

Hot Cake – Someone or something in high demand

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: That guy be hot cake for market.

I

Inside Life – Life is unpredictable or ironic

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Person wey get Benz no get fuel. Inside life!

I No Go Gree – I won’t accept or tolerate this

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: If dem try cheat me, I no go gree!

I Don Baff – I’m ready (literally means I’ve bathed)

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Oya, make we go. I don baff.

Inside Life – Expression of irony or deep realization

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Dem catch thief, na pastor e be. Inside life!

J

Japa – To run away, escape, or relocate abroad

• • • • Origin: Yoruba
      • Example: My guy don japa go Canada.

Jaiye – Enjoy life

• • • • Origin: Yoruba
      • Example: No stress, just jaiye.

Joint – A hangout spot, usually a bar or restaurant

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Make we link for that new joint.

Jasi – Enjoyment, groove

• • • Origin: Yoruba
    • Example: This weekend na full jasi!

Jungle Don Mature – The situation is serious now

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Police don land, jungle don mature!

K

Kolo – Crazy or mad

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: That guy don kolo finish!

Kpekus – Slang for female private parts

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: No go dey chase kpekus anyhow.

Kasala – Trouble or problem

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: If you no pay, kasala go burst.

Kanji – Feeling energetic or strong

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: After gym, my body just dey kanji!

Kele – Slang for a beautiful girl

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: That kele fine die!

L

Lamba – Sweet talk or lies

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: No dey give me lamba, talk true!

Las Las – At the end of the day

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Las las, we go dey alright.

Loud Am – Increase the volume or hype

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: DJ, loud am!

Level Don Change – Life has improved

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Omo, I don buy Benz, level don change!

Lomo – Short form for “Lover boy”

• • • Origin: Yoruba
    • Example: You be Lomo abi?

M

Maga – A fool, someone easily deceived

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: No be me go be your maga.

Mo Gbo Mo Ya – Acting without thinking

• • • • Origin: Yoruba
      • Example: You no sabi plan, na just mo gbo mo ya.

Mafo – Don’t be afraid

• • • • Origin: Yoruba
      • Example: Mafo, we go run am.

Maga Don Pay – Fraudulent activity has paid off

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: No worry, maga don pay.

Mot – Short for “motor” (car)

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: I don buy new mot!

N

Na So? – Is that so? (Skeptical response)

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: You win lottery? Na so?

No Wahala – No problem

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: I go help you, no wahala.

Na Dem Dey Rush Us – We are in high demand

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: See as babes dey look us, na dem dey rush us!

Na Lie – Exclamation of disbelief

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: You win lottery? Na lie!

No Gree For Anybody – Don’t take disrespect from anyone

• • • Origin: Social media/Pidgin
    • Example: This year, I no go gree for anybody!

No Go Dey Do Like Say You No Know – Don’t pretend like you don’t understand

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: I see you for club, no go dey do like say you no know.

No Shaking – Stay strong, no worries

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: We dey together, no shaking!

O

Omo – Expression for excitement or emphasis

• • • • Origin: Yoruba
      • Example: Omo! This song mad!

Osho Free – Something gotten for free

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: That ticket na osho free.

Over Sabi – Someone who acts like they know everything

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: That guy just dey do over sabi.

Oga At The Top – Boss or superior

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: No worry, Oga at the top go handle am.

Oyinbo – White person or foreigner

• • • Origin: Yoruba
    • Example: That Oyinbo sabi pidgin!
      

Opor – There’s plenty of something

• • • Origin: Yoruba/Pidgin
    • Example: Money opor, make we flex!

P

Package – To act as if you’re rich or successful

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: This guy sabi package well, no be him real life be this.

Padi – Friend or close buddy

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Na my padi be that.

Para – To be angry or aggressive

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: No para for me abeg.

Padi Padi – Friends with benefits or connections

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: That job na padi padi level.

Pepper Don Rest – Money has arrived

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: After that contract, pepper don rest.

Q

Queue For Me – Hold my spot in line

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Abeg, queue for me make I go buy something.

R

Run Am – Go ahead with something, make it happen

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: We go run am tomorrow.

Razz – Unrefined, local, or uncultured

• • • • Origin: English/Pidgin
      • Example: That guy too razz abeg.

Rugged – Hardcore, strong, or determined

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: That guy rugged for street.

Runz – Side hustle, usually dubious

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: That babe dey do runz.

Robo Robo – Deceitful talk

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: No dey give me robo robo talk.

S

Sharp – Smart, quick-witted

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: That babe too sharp!

Set – Looking good or attractive

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: You too set for this outfit!

Sef – Emphasis word (like “self”)

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Why you dey vex sef?

Shapally – Quickly or fast

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Do am shapally make we go.

Steeze – Style or swag

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: This guy get steeze!

Street OT – Street mentality or hustler mindset

• • • • Origin: Pidgin/Yoruba
      • Example: For Naija, na street OT sure pass.

Shenk – To ignore or ditch someone

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: That babe shenk me for party!

Show Face – Make an appearance

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Oya show face for my birthday.
      

Shey You Dey Whine Me Ni? – Are you joking with me?

• • • Origin: Yoruba/Pidgin
    • Example: You mean am? Shey you dey whine me ni?

T

Tension – To intimidate or impress

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: This car go tension dem for area.

Tear Rubber – Brand new (especially for cars or gadgets)

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: This phone na tear rubber.

Turn Up – To party or have fun

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: We go turn up this Friday!

Tap From Your Blessing – To wish for someone’s success

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Bro, I tap from your blessing!

U

Up NEPA – Expression of joy when electricity is restored

• • • • Origin: Nigerian electricity sector (NEPA = old power authority)
      • Example: (Lights come back on) Up NEPA!

Una – You all (plural form of “you”)

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Una dey go party?

UAR – Mocking name for Nigeria (United African Republic)

• • • Origin: Social media (joke from government rebranding attempt)
    • Example: Welcome to UAR, where fuel price dey always rise!

Una Dey Whyne Me? – Are you joking with me?

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: So na today you know? Una dey whyne me?

V

Vex – To be angry or annoyed

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: No vex, e go better.

Vibe – Energy, mood, or atmosphere

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: This party get better vibe!

Vawulence – Intentional provocation or controversy

• • • Origin: Social media/Pidgin English
    • Example: Twitter don dey hot again, vawulence don start!

Vex Money – Emergency cash for an escape

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Babe, always carry vex money if date no go well.

W

Wahala – Problem, trouble, or stress

• • • • Origin: Hausa
      • Example: Wetin be this wahala again?

Wetin – What?

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Wetin you talk?

Waka – To walk or move aimlessly

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: No just waka enter my lane!

Wipe – To beat or flog someone

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: If you try am, I go wipe you.

Whine Me – To deceive or joke with someone

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: You dey whine me ni?
      

Wetin Be This? – What is this nonsense?

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: Wetin be this wey you wear?

Woke – To be aware of social or political issues

• • • Origin: Social media/English
    • Example: That guy too woke, e sabi all government gist.

X

Xtra – Doing too much, excessive

• • • • Origin: English/Pidgin

• • • • Example: That babe too xtra abeg.
        

X – To cancel or remove something/someone

• • • Origin: Pidgin/English
    • Example: I don X that guy from my life.

Y

Yarn – To talk or speak

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Oga, yarn better matter.

Yahoo Boy – Internet fraudster

• • • • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: Police dey find Yahoo boys for area.

Yawa – Trouble or problem

• • • • Origin: Hausa
      • Example: No let yawa gas for this place.

Yard – Home or residence

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: I don reach my yard.

Yahoo Plus – Advanced internet fraud with rituals

• • • Origin: Pidgin English
    • Example: No be ordinary Yahoo, dem don ent

Z

Zanku – A dance style and slang for enjoyment

• • • Origin: Yoruba/Pidgin (popularized by Zlatan Ibile)
    • Example: Oya do Zanku for me!

Zobo – Fake news or lies (also hibiscus drink)

• 77. • Origin: Pidgin English
      • Example: No dey talk zobo.

        Zone Me – To put someone in the friend zone

        • Origin: Pidgin English

• • • Example: That babe don zone me, na just padi levels.
      

Zanga – Street or ghetto area

• • Origin: Hausa/Pidgin
  • Example: Na for Zanga we grow.

Zehh – Expression of excitement (popularized by Portable)

• • Origin: Yoruba/Pidgin
  • Example: Omo, Zehh! We don hammer!

Zic – To disappear quickly

• • Origin: Pidgin English
  • Example: Police don show, make we zic comot!