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Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by Nobody: 5:52pm On Sep 11, 2014 |
  English language is known for borrowing from other languages and every word (like everything else) has an origin. The word “Makurdi,” for example, comes with a story. When our colonial masters first visited the area now called Makurdi, they wanted to the person that was in-charge. And the locals kept referring to a rich merchant, whom they called mai-kudi, which translates to ‘owner of money’ in Hausa. Knowing the white man and his habit of killing our African names started calling the whole town Makurdi. And that is how the town, Makurdi, got its name. Which words have been borrowed from Nigerian Languages? We are going to answer that question today. GiftedGreen is going to provide you with some English words that have Nigerian Origin. 1.Okra At first you would wonder why this word is called “Okro” in Nigeria, and yet it is spelled “Okra” in English. It is not because you do not know how to spell; it is simply because it originated from the Igbo word “okuro” which also means also known as “ladies’ fingers”. 2.Juju No Nigerian needs an introduction to the word juju. At first, it does not seem like an English word until you check your dictionary. According to The Free Dictionary, this word originated from Hausa. And yes, it also mentioned the Yoruba type of music in the dictionary 3.Bogus Bogus means fake or fraudulent. Bogus is believed to be from the Hausa word “boko-boko”. 4.Tango Tango probably originates from the word ‘tamgu’ means to dance in Ibibio. How the Ibibio’s were able to name an Argentinean dance still baffles everybody at GiftedGreen. The FreeDictionary still gives credit to the language (Ibibio) so who are we to judge? 5.Buckra Buckra is a word used contemptuously by Black people, especially in the United States to refer a White man. This word is believed to have originated from the Efik word mba-ka-ra which means master. #slavetradethings 6.Yam The word yam probably originated from the Fulani word “nyami”. We would bet that you did not see this one coming, did you? If you were to choose a word contributed by the Fulani, you probably would have said cow. This list does not end here, there are also a couple of words like Dashiki, Agbada, Chigger, Obeah, and many more http://giftedgreen.com/2014/blog/2014/01/24/6-english-words-with-nigerian-origins/ 23 Likes 6 Shares |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by Nobody: 7:21pm On Sep 11, 2014 |
this is very educative i didn't even know that there was any english word with a nigerian origin, Even though the okro stuff always confused me 8 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by hatux: 9:12pm On Sep 11, 2014 |
Nice! |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by rattlesnake(m): 10:02pm On Sep 11, 2014 |
What of Bran tashi.....Abi Na buran tashi 11 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by tbmas(m): 10:08pm On Sep 11, 2014 |
Edukthief? |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by lepasharon(f): 10:12pm On Sep 11, 2014 |
Juju is a French word 6 Likes |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by ZACHIE: 10:14pm On Sep 11, 2014 |
This is misinforming. The etymologies of the specific words you listed up there are not exclusive, rather borderline assumptions. Okra,Juju,Tango,etc have much wider spread and use than Nigeria. The only genuine addition to English language in that list is a Yoruba word: DASHIKI which describes a traditional clothing item. There are indeed several other words absorbed into English emanating from Nigeria but certainly not the ones captured by the op in that they are not exclusive. SUSU is exclusive in area catchment, meaning and application. I will update this later. 44 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by nwaobitex: 10:57pm On Sep 11, 2014 |
hmm. nicn to hear |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by Tawis06(m): 12:09am On Sep 12, 2014 |
Ok |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by priscaoge(f): 12:21am On Sep 12, 2014 |
Yam n Okra? |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by habiolah(m): 12:58am On Sep 12, 2014 |
whuch one make we believe now? 2 Likes |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by Smartsyn(m): 6:31am On Sep 12, 2014 |
Ok, clap for Nigeria, they try... Op, what else? 1 Like |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by free2ryhme: 6:57am On Sep 12, 2014 |
Gud one |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by reincarnation: 6:58am On Sep 12, 2014 |
Corruption is also a word of Nigerian origin 5 Likes |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by iceberylin(m): 7:00am On Sep 12, 2014 |
Calm down , leme Call Britain and confarm this 27 Likes 2 Shares
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Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by NaLaugh: 7:00am On Sep 12, 2014 |
cool, but this sounds more like an opinion piece than a fact-based one (at least for about half of them). 5 Likes |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by Rexyl(m): 7:01am On Sep 12, 2014 |
'Me'in English same as 'mi' in Yoruba. 'say' meaning 'so' 'Copy' ---- 'ko' By the time we all go round we will descover that our differences are as result of separation from the same origin. 5 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by reincarnation: 7:01am On Sep 12, 2014 |
Udeme also....from guiness advert. Outside Nigeria they call small stout Udeme 5 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by eemalex(m): 7:01am On Sep 12, 2014 |
hmm. Super nice never knew tho. |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by Pavore9: 7:01am On Sep 12, 2014 |
lnteresting. |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by firstolalekan(m): 7:02am On Sep 12, 2014 |
ok op forgot to add Retardeen (e.g gej is a retardeen) Waka (e.g na only you waka come) daris (e.g daris god o) Amazingly, all those words are in standard English dictionary 18 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by freshness2020: 7:02am On Sep 12, 2014 |
Good to know that! |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by DesChyko: 7:03am On Sep 12, 2014 |
Nice research.. It could still be the other way round too.. |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by amakufrancis(m): 7:03am On Sep 12, 2014 |
space for sale |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by nairaclass: 7:04am On Sep 12, 2014 |
So good |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by sumtin4sure(m): 7:04am On Sep 12, 2014 |
Copied nice lecture at least I now know my country contribute in English language 1 Like |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by Inyanga(m): 7:04am On Sep 12, 2014 |
hnm |
Re: Some English Words With Nigerian Origin. by adextetoo(m): 7:05am On Sep 12, 2014 |
What of IMMUNITY by wole soyinka 11 Likes 1 Share |
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