A Fun Guide to Common Nigerian Expressions and What They Mean
Nigerians are a very unique bunch, and when it comes to the English language, we have this penchant for repurposing words and phrases to suit our needs. In recent times, the owners of the language have bowed to our superior versions of some of their words/ phrases and included them in their dictionary. Words like “severally” when we mean to say “several” or “next tomorrow” when we are referring to “the day after tomorrow” are some of the ones that have made the cut.
In the same vein, we have taken some English statements and redefined them to suit our unique purposes. I saw a list of some common Nigerian phrases and decided to define them as I understand them. Let me know if I did a good job after you have read them ok?
Are you ok?
- A British friend in the UK once asked me this question. My Naija brain kicked in quickly, and I intended to deliver a very Nigerian response. Thankfully, my international brain caught up with it and immediately initiated a reset. She noticed my initial hesitation so I decided to give her the Nigerian definition. In Naija, when anyone asks if you are ok, it is not to inquire about your well-being. It is rather to determine if all your faculties are functioning optimally because the actions you have just taken or the statements you have just made are quite outrageous. Are you ok is more often a polite insult than a thoughtful question
I am strong/ I am rich
- You would probably wonder why the person has informed you of their strength/ wealth even as you wonder why they look so tired/ hungry. In these parts, we do not utter any negativity lest it actually manifests in our lives. We are strong when we are ill and rich when we have financial needs. The sooner you get with the programme, the quicker you can determine what exactly the person needs from you.
Dress for me
- If you are ever sitting on a public bus or a crowded row of seats, and the person sitting beside you says “dress” or “dress for me”, just know that they are not calling attention to your outfit. Dress, in this situation, means make space for me or shift (also another well-used Naija word). Back in the days when Molues (big yellow buses known for accommodating sitting and standing passengers) still plied Lagos roads, many of them had an inscription in Yoruba on the inner body of the bus: múra dada nítorí ẹni tí ó wà ní ẹ̀gbẹ́ rẹ. In literal English, it means dress properly because of the person sitting beside you but in Nigerian English, dress in this context means shift. I remember one of my aunts coming home one day and asking why the bus drivers would be concerned about how passengers dressed until we explained that it meant move/ shift!
I am coming
- Many non-Nigerians will never understand this, no matter how it is explained to them. In English, it means “I am on my way”: present continuous tense, but in Nigerian English, it could either mean “I will be with you shortly” (in which case I just need to tidy up some stuff and then I will attend to you but do note that I do not know how long it will take me to get to you) or “I am leaving” (in which case I have no intentions of coming to meet you but you can keep waiting if you so wish). How do you determine which meaning applies per time? Listen intently for the tone in which it is said.
I am almost there/ I am on my way
- This is another expression that non-Nigerians will have a hard time understanding. This is a polite way of telling you that I have actually not left my house or wherever I am and your call has served as the first reminder that I will most likely be late. When you call and ask me the question a second time, it is my cue to get up and have my bath or start packing my things so that by the third time you call me, I can then say “I am coming”. Fear not, I will get there eventually.
With all due respect
- This statement is usually uttered after someone has made a great speech about something, and the responder feels the need to counter that speech. In plain terms, no respect is involved, and you can choose to either take it personally like a petulant child or take it calmly and learn your lesson. You will most likely be insulted but not directly, everyone knows to direct such rebuttals with a bit of two-faced graciousness.
I will not take much of your time/ I will be very brief
- Once you hear this, just loosen your skirt, unbuckle your belt, kick off your shoes, and then relax your feet. If you spend anything less than twice the amount of time you’ve already spent there, just call me a liar. Don’t even assume you’re about to hear anything new, you’re bound to listen to a fanciful regurgitation of everything that’s been said.
To God who made me/I swear to God
- This is often repeated with much gusto shortly before or after the person tells an exaggerated version of the truth or an outright lie. It is also usually accompanied by a finger touching the tongue and subsequently raised to the sky. Be sure to watch for nonverbal cues as this attempt to present oneself as forthright is exhibited. God is lenient, so He will overlook this, but if it was one of the local deities, instant judgment beckons!
Who do you think you are?/ Do you know who I am?
- Do not confuse this question as an attempt to uncover your identity: far from it. It is an opportunity for the person to reveal that they either consider themselves capable of wielding some power or that they have someone in power on speed dial. Be afraid, be very afraid except you have superior power of course. Truthfully, they may not even be able to muster a security guard to defend them. Rest, they are most likely a nobody.
I believe that Nigerian English will one day take over the world and our variant of pidgin English will be close on its heels. Anyway, the most important thing is that we understand ourselves right? Did I do a good job? Please share any other common expressions you know so I know how you see things. As for me, this is the way I see things today.Photo credit