Communicating can be difficult in Nigeria, a country with
over 500 different languages. So, the best place to start is
at the beginning, with 'hello'.
When you meet someone for the first time, what do you say?
Hello!
Hello can start any conversation and lead to a great
friendship.
With a great number of local dialects, Nigeria has got lots of
different expressions that count as Hello.
NAIJ.com has gathered different ways you can say hello in
Nigerian languages.

1. Bawo ni
This is the standard way of greeting in Yoruba. It means
‘How are you’ and can be used informally and formally at
any time of the day. Though, it is not advisable to say ‘Bawo
ni’ to elderly people.

2. Kedu
This is how to say hello in Igbo. It literally translates as “how
are you”. It is a common greeting among the Igbos and can
be used any time of day in any kind of situation.

3. Sannu
This is a formal way to say hello in Hausa. It is commonly
used in northern Nigeria.

4. Kóyo
It is a way of saying “hello” or “how are you” in Benin. This
greeting is commonly used in Benin and neighboring
communities. It can be used at any time of the day and in
any situation.

5. Mesiere
This is commonly used by Efik/Ibibio people to say hello. It is
an everyday, complimentary greeting used between all
people. However, some are of the opinion that “ Idem mfo? “
or “ Abadie” are better interpretations.

6. Ado
This is how to say hello in Ijaw language which is spoken in
Bayelsa state. However, this greeting has several variations.
You could say ‘Tobaroa’, ‘Nua’,’botei’, or ‘Ibasa’.

7. Ibaatẹ
This is how the Kalabari say hello. It is a general form of
greeting. It belongs to the Ijaw ethnic group in Niger River
Delta.

8. Mavo
Literally translated as “how are you?”, Mavo is how you say
hello in Urhobo spoken in Delta state. It can be used in both
formal and informal situations.

9. Abole
This could be translated as “How are you?” or “Hello”. It is
used by Idoma people in Benue state to say ‘hello’.

10. Ushé-ushé
This is a form of general greeting in Kanuri language which
is spoken in former Kanem and Bornu empire. In an informal
setting you can say “Awi yei?” which means “how are you?”

11. Shòù
This is how to say hello in Izere language. Izere is spoken in
Plateau state. You can also say “Dàkàzha”.

12. Ìsoko
This how you say hello and call out a general greeting in Jibu
language which is spoken in Taraba state.

13. Me digwa
This is a general greeting in Isoko language which is spoken
in Isoko local government area and Ndokwa local government
area of Delta state. It can pass for “hello”. When someone
says, “Me digwa” you respond, “Re do”.

14. Agba
This is how to say hello in Igala which is widely spoken in
Kogi state. When someone says ‘Agba’ you respond, ‘Awa’.

15. Wáà súnà
This means “good morning” in Kaningkom-Nindem language
which is spoken in Kaduna state. You could also say “Yeni a
wo?” which means how are you. The Kaningkom-Nindem
language is .

16. I hail, how far
It is a very popular way of saying “hello” in pidgin.

Source: https://www.naij.com/1104172-how-correctly-16-different-nigerian-languages.html

cc: Seun, lalasticlala, bigfrancis21

Very educative

Awesome work.

Ibaatẹ is used as Good morning not as hello, which is Tobra in the Kalabari dialect