With over 520 languages including dialects, Nigeria is a country of many tongues. While English is regarded as the first language due to the influence of British colonial rule, there are several other derivatives of it including pidgin (also known as broken English or slang). Here’s your need-to-know guide...

1. AMEBO
This is used to refer to a person who likes to gossip or likes spreading gossip e.g. ‘you too like amebo’ means ‘you love gossip’, whereas ‘she’s an amebo’ means ‘she’s a gossip’.

2. AJEBUTTER
In Nigeria this term is used to refer to people who are well off or brought up with a silver spoon. It can also be simply termed ‘butter’ for short.

3. CONTROL (Ctrl) P
A recent slang in the Nigerian slang lexicon, ‘control P’ is a term used when someone is taking a situation too personally. For example, ‘na control P dey worry am’ means the person is taking things too personally.

4. FALL MY HAND
This is another popular slang that is used when someone is disappointed by a person or something that happened. For example, ‘no fall my hand’ means ‘don’t disappoint me’, while ‘na so dem fall my hand for there’ means ‘that’s how I was disappointed over there’.

5. GBOSA
This slang is an action word which means to punch or slap, but can be as well used to refer to the sound made when someone or something is being punched. For example, ‘I go give you gbosa for head!’ means ‘I will punch/slap your head!’ The word can also be used when describing the sound of a punch, as in ‘Pow!’.

6. JACK
This slang is commonly used by students and shouldn’t be confused with the English name of the same spelling. To ‘jack’ means to study or revise effectively. ‘I dey go jack for my exam’ means ‘I’m going to study for my exam’.

7. SOJI
This word is an abbreviation of the Yoruba name Adesoji, which means ‘the crown is revived’. However, when used in everyday vernacular, it means to be knowledgeable about something or street smart. For example, ‘she too soji’ means ‘she’s very smart’.

8. JARA
Jara is derived from the Yoruba language and it means to add extra or give a freebie after something has already been bought or paid for. For example, when serving a dish at a restaurant, customers can usually be found asking for ‘jara’, at which point the seller might add an extra piece of meat or scoop of rice at his or her discretion.

9. KOLO
This means to go crazy or mad. This can mean literally or metaphorically depending on the context.

10. MAGA/MUGU
This is used to describe someone regarded as a fool or someone who is very gullible or being conned e.g. ‘you be maga’ means ‘you’re a fool’. But in this context – ‘my maga promise me hundred thousand Naira’, it shows that the person who’s being referred to as the maga is being conned.

11. YAB
This is another slang mostly used by younger people, as it’s usually in a playful yet insulting manner. It means to diss or make fun of someone. For example, ‘he loves to yab people’ means ‘he loves to diss people’.

SOURCE: https://theculturetrip.com/africa/nigeria/articles/11-untranslatable-nigerian-slang-words-we-need-in-english/

Do you know any other Naija slangs that deserve formal entry into the English lexicon? Do post it here, for discussion...

Yeba

AROBA M

For yab, it's originally called yap.

Point of correction , JARA is a word from the Hausa language not Yoruba. It has d exact meaning you pointed out.

prof2007:
With over 520 languages including dialects, Nigeria is a country of many tongues. While English is regarded as the first language due to the influence of British colonial rule, there are several other derivatives of it including pidgin (also known as broken English or slang). Here’s your need-to-know guide...

1. AMEBO
This is used to refer to a person who likes to gossip or likes spreading gossip e.g. ‘you too like amebo’ means ‘you love gossip’, whereas ‘she’s an amebo’ means ‘she’s a gossip’.

2. AJEBUTTER
In Nigeria this term is used to refer to people who are well off or brought up with a silver spoon. It can also be simply termed ‘butter’ for short.
3. CONTROL (Ctrl) P
A recent slang in the Nigerian slang lexicon, ‘control P’ is a term used when someone is taking a situation too personally. For example, ‘na control P dey worry am’ means the person is taking things too personally.

4. FALL MY HAND
This is another popular slang that is used when someone is disappointed by a person or something that happened. For example, ‘no fall my hand’ means ‘don’t disappoint me’, while ‘na so dem fall my hand for there’ means ‘that’s how I was disappointed over there’.

5. GBOSA
This slang is an action word which means to punch or slap, but can be as well used to refer to the sound made when someone or something is being punched. For example, ‘I go give you gbosa for head!’ means ‘I will punch/slap your head!’ The word can also be used when describing the sound of a punch, as in ‘Pow!’.

6. JACK
This slang is commonly used by students and shouldn’t be confused with the English name of the same spelling. To ‘jack’ means to study or revise effectively. ‘I dey go jack for my exam’ means ‘I’m going to study for my exam’.

7. SOJI
This word is an abbreviation of the Yoruba name Adesoji, which means ‘the crown is revived’. However, when used in everyday vernacular, it means to be knowledgeable about something or street smart. For example, ‘she too soji’ means ‘she’s very smart’.

8. JARA
Jara is derived from the Yoruba language and it means to add extra or give a freebie after something has already been bought or paid for. For example, when serving a dish at a restaurant, customers can usually be found asking for ‘jara’, at which point the seller might add an extra piece of meat or scoop of rice at his or her discretion.

9. KOLO
This means to go crazy or mad. This can mean literally or metaphorically depending on the context.

10. MAGA/MUGU
This is used to describe someone regarded as a fool or someone who is very gullible or being conned e.g. ‘you be maga’ means ‘you’re a fool’. But in this context – ‘my maga promise me hundred thousand Naira’, it shows that the person who’s being referred to as the maga is being conned.

11. YAB
This is another slang mostly used by younger people, as it’s usually in a playful yet insulting manner. It means to diss or make fun of someone. For example, ‘he loves to yab people’ means ‘he loves to diss people’.

SOURCE: https://theculturetrip.com/africa/nigeria/articles/11-untranslatable-nigerian-slang-words-we-need-in-english/

Do you know any other Naija slangs that deserve formal entry into the English lexicon? Do post it here, for discussion...

pepper done rest.

Pepper means money

Pepper done rest means money done come

Wahala

Wahala means trouble

Yawa

Yawa means Problem

Yawa done cast means There is problem

Shakara or blow guy

Means self-pride

12. SHAYO
Refers to alcoholic drinks e.g. "Make we go shayo" means “Let’s go grab a drink”.

13. ABEG
Means please e.g. "abeg make I pass" means "please make way".

14. BAFF UP
Means to dress nicely.

15. YAWA
Implies trouble or problem e.g. "Yawa done cast" means "there is problem".

ekorian:
Point of correction , JARA is a word from the Hausa language not Yoruba. It has d exact meaning you pointed out.

you hear broken so
Jara in Hausa= addition
Jara in Yoruba= please ( most commonly used)

prof2007:


5. GBOSA
This slang is an action word which means to punch or slap, but can be as well used to refer to the sound made when someone or something is being punched. For example, ‘I go give you gbosa for head!’ means ‘I will punch/slap your head!’ The word can also be used when describing the sound of a punch, as in ‘Pow!’.
n...

You tried but with this one you are wrong, gbosa means kudos or bravo, like 3 gbosa for the chairman, then you hear gbosa gbosa gbosa

SaintBeehot:
you hear broken so
Jara in Hausa= addition
Jara in Yoruba= please ( most commonly used)

Wrong Jara in Yoruba means extra, like you buy 5 fufu and the seller gave you extra one

SaintBeehot:
you hear broken so
Jara in Hausa= addition
Jara in Yoruba= please ( most commonly used)

which yoruba is jara= please ?

IamWonderful:
You tried but with this one you are wrong, gbosa means kudos or bravo, like 3 gbosa for the chairman, then you hear gbosa gbosa gbosa

Wrong Jara in Yoruba means extra, like you buy 5 fufu and the seller gave you extra one

Jara is an Hausa word borrowed by Yorubas just like English borrowed some Latin words

Shebi? Yoruba word

Abi? Yoruba


Haba! Hausa

KO Hausa

Iamgrey5:
Jara is an Hausa word borrowed by Yorubas just like English borrowed some Latin words

Bros did I dispute that, was there anywhere I stated the origin of the word?

IamWonderful:
You tried but with this one you are wrong, gbosa means kudos or bravo, like 3 gbosa for the chairman, then you hear gbosa gbosa gbosa

u also got gbosa very wrong...Gbosa is simply an exclamation for d sound produced wen an heavy object falls or wen 2 objects collide or wen two surfaces collide or wen a gun is shot...Guns are shot to give kudos or to hail people,, but wen u can't use a gun,,u use ur mouth to make d sound

IamWonderful:
You tried but with this one you are wrong, gbosa means kudos or bravo, like 3 gbosa for the chairman, then you hear gbosa gbosa gbosa

Wrong Jara in Yoruba means extra, like you buy 5 fufu and the seller gave you extra one

jara is an hausa word, jare mean please in Yoruba language op was wrong.

HomerTimpson:
which yoruba is jara= please ?

op mistake jare for jara.
Jare mean please in Yoruba language as op aforementioned.

prof2007 Aproko, Kasala,

macjireh:


u also got gbosa very wrong...Gbosa is simply an exclamation for d sound produced wen an heavy object falls or wen 2 objects collide or wen two surfaces collide or wen a gun is shot...Guns are shot to give kudos or to hail people,, but wen u can't use a gun,,u use ur mouth to make d sound

When words are spelled the same and sound the same but have different meanings, then they are called homonyms. For example the word "fair" has a few meanings when used as different parts of speech. When used as an adjective, it can describe someone as agreeable, but it can also describe someone who has light skin or hair. Gbosa can mean to applaud a person, it could also mean exclamation when two object collided.

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Updated...

12. SHAYO
Refers to alcoholic drinks e.g. "Make we go shayo" means “Let’s go grab a drink”.

13. ABEG
Means please e.g. "abeg make I pass" means "please make way".

14. BAFF UP
Means to dress nicely.

15. YAWA
Implies trouble or problem e.g. "Yawa done cast" means "there is problem".

16. SHAKARA
Means to pose or to show off e.g. "she dey do shakara" means she is posing.

17. APROKO
Someone who interferes in other people's affairs.

18. ABOKI
Being foolish or ignorant about things.

19. AGBERO
A street urchin, tout or anyone characterised by waywardness.

20. KASALA
Means trouble, problem or any difficult situation e.g. "kasala don burst" means "there is a big problem".

21. AJEPAKO
Someone who wasn't born with a silver spoon or who had a very tough childhood; Opposite of "Ajebo".

22. BABA IJEBU
A betting shop or daily lottery.

23. ASHY
A wayward girl or woman.

24. AWOOF
Free stuff or something given as charity e.g. "awoof dey run belle" means "love of free things can get you into trouble".

25. ANYWHERE BELLE FACE
Someone without principles thus ready to do anything for material gain.

Obo alata

ekorian:
Point of correction , JARA is a word from the Hausa language not Yoruba. It has d exact meaning you pointed out.

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Gbege
Kasala

Kpo-fire is a Bille dialect of Ijaw people in Rivers State used in classifying modular refinery.

[quote author=illicit post=92273524]Yeba[/quote


Meaning?

LadyExcellency:
AROBA M

Meaning?

chatinent:
For yab, it's originally called yap.

Yap means Yes please.. It doesn't mean yab

Jara is HAUSA not YORUBA

Ogbologbo means JIGOLO