When I say Nigeria is a land of fun, I also say the people make it fun. Nigerians could be dramatic; they say one thing, and it would mean a totally different thing. This article explores some funny and unique Nigerian sayings that might leave you confused if you're not familiar with the local context.
Common Nigerian Phrases and Their Real Meanings
Here are a few quotes that are only common in Nigeria and will make you laugh as you remember which one you used:
- "Hear the smell": Nigerians are weird. They would use this phrase when they are trying to call your attention to a smell or odor. They would rather say hear the smell instead of perceive the smell. It is only in Nigeria that the nose can be confused with the ears. Those who use this phrase speak the Yoruba language a lot.
- "Dress for me": If you're are not a Nigerian, you may go on and do something totally different upon hearing this phrase. When this phrase is being said by a Nigerian, he wants you to adjust and make space for him, it's a typical Nigerian's way of saying 'please create a space for me' or better still 'let me share your space with you'.
- "Stop lying on me": If you hear a man telling your wife over the phone to stop lying on him, a thousand lethal thoughts could pass through your mind if you are not a Nigerian. You would get the whole thing totally wrong and assume something else is going on. However, Nigerians say this when they ought to say 'stop lying against me'.
- "I will show you pepper": When Nigerians say they will show you pepper, do not assume they are talking about showing you tomatoes and green peppers. They are trying to tell you they will deal with you. Nigerians say this when they are not pleased with someone; this is their own way of being vengeful. Nigerians mean they will get back at you for doing something to them when they use the phrase.
- "I will teach you a lesson": If you think a Nigerian want to teach you something new when you hear this phrase, you are in a big mess. This phrase means you are in for a tough time. Nigerian parents say this a lot when their children are being naughty.
- "Stay in your lane": When you are being told to stay in your lane, this means you should mind your business and stop putting your nose in other people's affairs.
- "So, what do you expect?": When you hear this, the speaker is indirectly saying 'what do you expect'.
- "The child of an elephant will not be a dwarf": Nigerians use this phrase when they want to mock your opinion or tell you how lame they think your idea is. Most times, this phrase is always said after they might have done the symbolic twitching of the nose which is known as 'yimu' or the lifting of the chin as a sign of disbelief.
Nigerian Pidgin English Proverbs
Here are some popular Nigerian pidgin English proverbs and their meanings:
- "He who fights & runs away, Na fear catch am." - He who fights and runs away is running because he is afraid.
- "Pikin wey no sabi em mama boyfriend, Dey call am brother." - A child who does not know his mother's boyfriend calls him brother.
- "A rolling stone no just dey roll, Na person push am." - A rolling stone doesn't just roll; someone pushes it.
- "He who lives in a glass house, Na im pepe rest." - He who lives in a glass house, pepper rests on him.
- "A stitch intime, dey prevent further tear tear." - A stitch in time prevents further tearing.
- "Birds of d same feather, na d same mama born dem." - Birds of the same feather were born by the same mother.
- "One good turn, na correct power steering be that." - One good turn is a correct power steering.
- "A bird in hand, wetin e wan be again if no be barbeque." - A bird in hand, what else would it be if not barbecue.
- "Half bread, is better than buns or puff puff." - Half bread is better than buns or puff puff.
- "D journey of a thousand miles, Ol' boy e beta make u carry your car go enter aeroplane." - The journey of a thousand miles, it's better to take your car on an airplane.
- "The patient dog, Na hunger go kill am." - The patient dog will die of hunger.
- "All work & no play, Na Banker be dat." - All work and no play, that's a banker.
People are used to hearing quote worthy sentences with the dramatic flair when it comes to the likes of Shakespeare or Emily Brontë. It's the kind of sentence structure that makes everything sound like a love affair with the English language as you imagine someone writing with quill and ink. Maybe the English language has gotten a bit sloppy or lazy over the years.
But it seems that Nigerians have never stopped having a flair for the dramatics when it comes to speaking, at least that's what people on the internet have revealed. One of the co-hosts reads out a response to the original post, "my Naija professor once said, 'they've made an assassination attempt on my life,' when he slipped on a piece of paper." The theatrics in speech were too much for the other co-host to bear as he called out how dramatic it was to call slipping on a piece of paper an assassination attempt. But maybe, just maybe we could have a little more fun with the English language. Clearly, Americans haven't figured out how to give our sentences the proper enhancements because speaking this way seems much more fun. I could not even be mad.
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One commenter reveals, "when I walk in with a serious look, my Nigerian mom would ask me, 'my daughter why does your face look like a formal letter?'" Someone said they need these little nuggets in the form of a daily calendar and they just might be on to something. Who wouldn't love a little Nigerian wordsmithing sitting at the ready?
If you are visiting Nigeria, don't be daunted by the 520 languages in our repertoire. Just remember to add a little bit of pidgin to yours and you will be fine. My maternal grandfather, Sergeant Afa, was a soldier whose family of 11 moved from barrack to barrack. My aunties married and introduced new languages into the family. My father also moved our family around by working in different states, until he settled in Abuja when I was born. Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages are our national languages because they are spoken by the majority. Our safe place is Nigerian Pidgin: our common language.
Unlike the English word, 'chop' which implies that something is being sliced or hacked; in pidgin it means 'food'. This phrase means 'This meal is delicious'. For instance, one could say: ‘You sure of dis tin wey you dey talk so? It means, ‘Are you sure of what you are saying? You could say, 'Abeg come chop food' which is an invitation to a meal. Comot! The flip side is 'Wahala dey o', meaning there is a problem. There’s also Obodo Oyibo, borrowed from the Igbo language. Kia-kia is borrowed from Yoruba language which means ‘quickly-quickly’. Say it twice to indicate urgency or emphasis. Amongst Nigerians, using Pidgin shows that you can identify with everyone, irrespective of your status.
Table: Common Nigerian Pidgin Phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Abeg come chop food | Please come and eat. |
| Wahala dey o | There is a problem. |
| Kia-kia | Quickly-quickly (urgently). |
The English You Won't Understand... (PIDGIN ENGLISH)
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