{"id":734,"date":"2023-09-25T11:22:26","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T11:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/?p=734"},"modified":"2023-09-25T11:24:17","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T11:24:17","slug":"popular-nigerian-slangs-and-their-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/?p=734","title":{"rendered":"Popular Nigerian slangs and their meaning<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nigerian slangs are an essential part of the Nigerian culture, and it\u2019s a language that many Nigerians understand and speak. Slangs are spoken in different dialects across the country, and it\u2019s a popular way of communication among Nigerians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While we may use slangs for the sake of fun and easy communications, slangs are much more important than that. They play a huge role in preserving cultures and authenticity of a person. Slangs elevate conversations and leave outsiders wondering, \u201cWhat is happening?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nigerian Slangs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Traffic
A market in Lagos, Nigeria <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A Slang<\/a> is a vocabulary (words, phrases, and linguistic usages) of an informal register, common in verbal conversation but avoided in formal writing. It also sometimes refers to the language generally exclusive to the members of particular in-groups in order to establish group identity, exclude outsiders, or both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most Nigerian slangs spring from the most unlikely of places, as well as from the most unlikely of people, and more often than not, they start as a joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 A celebrity, like a musician, can utter a statement or say a word during a song, and the next thing, it gets repeated enough that it becomes a trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Nigerian slangs some might trend for a while before fading into obscurity, others linger for years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are visiting anywhere in Nigeria, don’t be daunted by the numerous indigenous languages, we\u2019ve compiled the ultimate guide to popular Nigerian slangs you are likely to hear in conversations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Davido,<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. E Choke – This slang was introduced by famous Nigerian singer Davido<\/a>. \u201cE Choke\u201d literally means \u201cIt Chokes\u201d. However, in the street lingua, it is an exclamatory remark for something overwhelming or extremely impressive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Chop breakfast \/ serve breakfast – Literally means \u201cto be heartbroken\u201d <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Sapa – This slang has been the most used word on social media lately. It is a term used to describe a state of being extremely broke or poor, usually after spending extravagantly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        <\/div>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. Omo! – \u2018Omo\u2019 is usually used to express excitement, shock, and surprise amongst others. Whenever a surprising event takes place, and you don\u2019t have anything to say but don\u2019t want those around to feel as though you\u2019re snubbing them, give them an \u2018Omo!\u2019 <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          <\/div>\n\n\n\n

          Read also – “Facts About Kinyarwanda: Rwanda Language<\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. Aza – This is a popular slang that simply means bank account digits. When a Nigerian says \u201csend your aza\u201d, he or she simply means send your account number.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Abi? – This means \u2018Right?\u2019 or ‘Isn\u2019t it?’ For example, you might say: \u2018This shade of green is olive green, abi? \u2019Which means: ‘This shade of green is olive green, right?\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              1. \u201cWe Meuuve\u201d – Translated as \u201cwe move\u201c, this slang is better accepted as a motivational phrase and a way of Nigerians saying \u201clife goes on.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                1. Japa: This Nigerian slang is a Yoruba word which means \u201cto flee, escape or run\u201d, But once you hear \u201cJapa\u201d, it tells you the person wants to travel abroad. This is a slang you would find every migrating Nigerian using to describe the process.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n
                  1. Dey play – means to continue wasting time; being unserious. \u201cdey play\u201d is a catchphrase that tells others they need to double up their work and stop being unserious with life.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      \n
                    1.  Jara is a Nigerian slang derived from 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”<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        \n
                      1.  Abeg – simply means ‘Please.’<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          \n
                        1.  Wahala –  means ‘Trouble’, and its meaning can change depending on context. When someone says ‘No wahala, they could mean ‘Yes’ or ‘No problem’.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            \n
                          1. Wetin – “What?” ,”Yes?” that\u2019s what it means<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              \n
                            1. Yab – This is a Nigerian slang mostly used by younger people. It means to diss or make fun of someone. For example, \u2018he loves to yab people\u2019 means \u2018he loves to diss people\u2019.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                \n
                              1. Chop knuckle means To give someone a high five.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                Nigerian slangs are an essential part of the Nigerian culture, and it\u2019s a language that many Nigerians understand and speak. Slangs are spoken in different dialects across the country, and it\u2019s a popular way of communication among Nigerians. While we may use slangs for the sake of fun and easy communications, slangs are much more …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":742,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[22],"tags":[38,49,37,50,52,51],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/734"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=734"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/734\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":747,"href":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/734\/revisions\/747"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oweb.babelos.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}