₦airaland Forum

These slangs would be hard to explain to a non-Nigerian.

Every country has unique traditions as well as slangs, which are spoken throughout the country. In Nigeria, there are slangs unique to secondary schools, university life, and even regions of the country. Foreigners might have a hard time understanding these slangs and locals might have a hard time explaining them. Here are a few of the slangs unique to Nigeria street life.


1. Ehen!

This exclamation has different interpretations, depending on the context in which it was used. It could mean "I get it", "and so?" "yes", "okay", "continue", "as i was saying", "that reminds me", etc.

*Credit*-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikWJnVxd4Es

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2. Jara

Jara is a noun derived from the Yoruba language and it means to add extra or give a freebie after something has already been bought or paid for, at the seller's discretion. E.g. "Please add jara".

3. Osha pra pra

This salutation is used when one is praising another, which is loosely translated to mean "you are dope!". It is mostly used in the street to hail/greet a friend or acquaintance who is passing by.

4. Ajebutter

Ajebutter, ajebo, 'bota' or 'botti', simply refers to one who is born with a silver spoon. It can be loosely translated to mean "bourgeoisie". E.g. "That babe is an ajebutter".

5. Lepa/Orobo

Lepa is a noun that refers to a sexy slim woman. E.g. "That lepa babe is hot". Orobo is loosely the opposite of lepa. It refers to a sexy plump/ thick woman. It can also be used as a derogatory remark.


6. Ashewo

This noun is a slang for sex workers. It can also be a derogatory term.

7. Amebo

This word is used to refer to a person who likes to gossip or spread gossip and cannot be trusted. It can also be used to refer to gossip itself. E.g. "You too like amebo" or "That girl is an amebo".

8. Abi/shey/ba

Abi, shey or ba are slang that act sort of like punctuation. They are mostly used for confirmation after a statement, thereby turning it into a question. They are like the English "right?" E.g. "You are coming for my party, abi/shey/ba?"

9. Over-sabi

This is a noun referring to someone who is a busy-body, or mocking someone who over-performs his/her intelligence/knowledge. E.g. "I did not ask you, over-sabi."

10. Kolo

This verb means to go crazy or mad. This can mean literally or metaphorically depending on the context. E.g. "He don kolo".
Credit-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikWJnVxd4Es

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FTC
you have done well jare.

Hahaha dats how we roll, I luv Naija shaa....4get say our leaders are messing us up

Ok

What of joor as is leave me alone joor.

Jaree. You try pass jaree.

Jara is not Yoruba

na so we go dey, dey!

3. Osha pra pra

This salutation is used when one is praising another, which is loosely translated to mean "you are dope!". It is mostly used in the street to hail/greet a friend or acquaintance who is passing by.

I didn't know this...

Oga nko?

Ok

op clap for ursef

jadeliyi:
you have done well jare.

abi?

Baba na so ooh,2 seconds everywhere burst

Exactly

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One very common one in the North when I was there was the word "ko".

Is it still popular?

how about ``shenkens``?

OP jara is derived from Hausa not Yoruba...
though it has become a common word that cut across the country...
'eni' is the word for jara in Yoruba though that might still depend on locality

You mean Lagos people?

Lol

OP can I use it to withdraw money from the atm?

BTW I can't find "wetin", "dey" in your list... I dey can be used in various forms, I dey (response to how far or to where are you etc?)

What about Ja ra e
Gbe Body e
No Mannerz

oyibo pepper

Kingluqman:
Oga nko?

Both the oga and nko follow

Innoxxacs:
abi?

Amebo, y you quote him na only you sabi yan

Ehen

Ok

Okpo

Ashana

Olosho

Jaapa

Dey road(to run away or move)

Slayqueen( u know na )

I dey come make I soak garri fess

oyibo pepper baba goslow

Park well
9ja no dey carry last

Likewise ' Fa'

what of kukuma? what does that one mean? as in when someone goes "you kuku/kukuma know that my own no hard"