If you are planning a visit to Nigeria, you might be overwhelmed by the sheer number of languages spoken in the country. With over 520 languages in its repertoire, Nigeria is a melting pot of linguistic diversity. However, there's no need to be daunted. By learning a bit of Nigerian Pidgin, you'll be able to navigate conversations with ease and connect with people from all walks of life.
Amongst Nigerians, using Pidgin shows that you can identify with everyone, irrespective of your status. Our safe place is Nigerian Pidgin: our common language. Pidgin English is extremely popular in most parts of Africa, particularly West Africa, and has been accepted as the de-facto language of blue collar trade and merchants.
One of the most common phrases you'll hear is "How far?". Let's delve into the meaning of "How far" and its significance in Nigerian slang.
What Does "How Far" Mean?
“How far?” is a common term used in West African countries like Nigeria and Ghana to know how you doing. "How far?" is essentially a greeting, similar to "How's it going?" or "What's up?". As the word depicts means , how far have you gone.
Here are a few examples of how "How far?" is used in everyday conversation:
Read also: "Sabi" Meaning Explained
- "Im chillin at your girls house, How far?"
- "At the crib, what’s good How far: working bro; tryna get to this money; ya feel meh bro?!"
- "Hey, how far? Nothing much."
- "How far? Nuthin' man, just chillin'."
It's a versatile phrase that can be used in various contexts to initiate a conversation or check in on someone.
Other Common Pidgin Phrases
To further enhance your understanding of Nigerian Pidgin, here are some other common phrases you might encounter:
- How bodi? / How you dey? - How are you?
- Wetin? - What?
- I dey fine - I’m fine.
- Wetin dey happen? - What’s going on?
- Wahala - Problem/Trouble. Example - Why you dey give me wahala?
- Comot! - Get out!
- Dem send you? - Were you sent?
- K-leg - Questionable. Example - Your story get k-leg!
- Abeg - Please, but usually not a repentant plea. Example - Abeg! No waste my time!; Which means Please!
- Vex - Upset. Example - Make you no vex me!
- Abi? - Right?
- Na so? - Is that so?
- Wayo - Trickery.
- Butta my bread - Answered prayers.
- Where are you going? - Wusai do dey go?
Understanding these phrases will not only help you communicate effectively but also allow you to appreciate the richness and vibrancy of Nigerian culture.
The Significance of Pidgin in Nigeria
Nigerian Pidgin serves as a unifying language in a country with diverse ethnic groups and languages. Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages are our national languages because they are spoken by the majority. It transcends ethnic and social barriers, allowing people from different backgrounds to communicate and connect with one another. 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.
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. 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'. 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.
Read also: Understanding Nigerian Slang: Idan
| Pidgin Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| How far? | How's it going? |
| Abeg | Please |
| Wetin dey happen? | What’s going on? |
| Wahala | Problem/Trouble |
Even if you don’t find yourself traveling to Nigeria in the distant future, try one of these phrases on one of your Nigerian friends, and fully bask in their glowing response.
THE BEST WAYS TO LEARN NIGERIAN PIDGIN ENGLISH #pidginenglish #nigerianpidginenglish
Read also: Culture of the Karo Ethnic Group
Popular articles:
tags: #Nigeria
