Welcome to the Pidgin Dictionary; Trust we’ve worked to get you common Phrases used in African Pidgin English

A

• Abeg 🙏 – Please; a polite addition to requests.
• Area 🏠 – Neighborhood or place.
• Awoof 🎁 – Something gotten for free; a deal.
• Aza 💳 – Bank account or place to keep money.
• Alobam 👊 – A reliable or trusted friend.
• Akata 🇺🇸 – People of African descent who live in America.
• Asin ↔️ – Like or similar to.
• Amebo 🗣️ – Gossip or a person who likes spreading stories.
• Ago ⏱️ – Ago or past time indicator.
• Ajebutter 🧈 – A person who is pampered or has lived a life of luxury.
• Alaye 💬 – Explaining or explanation.
• Agbada 🧥 – A large, flowing traditional robe.
• Agbero 🚌 – Bus conductor or tout.
• Ashewo/Ashawo 💃 – Prostitute.
• Abi? ❓ – Right? or Isn’t it?
• Aluta ✊ – Struggle or fight, often used in the context of activism.
• Akpako 🧑‍🌾 – Local or rural person.
• Akpu 🍲 – A local dish made from fermented cassava.
• Aradite 💪 – Strong or tough person.
• Ajebo 🍼 – Someone who is not street-smart or naive about local ways.
• Apako 💃 – A dance move.
• At all ❌ – Not even a bit or not at all.
• Agidi 🧠 – Stubbornness or firmness.
• Ajala ✈️ – A traveler or one who travels frequently.
• Ankara 👗 – African wax print fabric, often colorful and used for clothing.

B

• Bodi 👤 – Body, referring to physical health or presence.
• Belle 🤰 – Stomach or belly.
• Baba 👴 – Father, elder, or respected man.
• Biko 🙏 – Please, often used in Eastern Nigeria.
• Beta 👍 – Better or improved state.
• Breeze 🌬️ – Cool or easy situation.
• Baff up 👔 – Dress up nicely.
• Bend down select 👖 – Cheap or second-hand clothes.
• Bobo 👦 – Boy or young man.
• Bisi ⏳ – Busy or engaged.
• Bungalow 🏡 – A single-story house, used to indicate simplicity.
• Bakassi 🍑 – Rear end or buttocks.
• Banga 🥘 – Palm fruit soup or the fruit itself.
• Buga 💪 – Show off or flaunt.
• Burst brain 🤯 – Amazing or mind-blowing.
• Bossu 🕴️ – Boss or authority figure.
• Bulala 🤕 – Whip or beating.
• Bulge ✅ – Agree or comply.
• Bam 😎 – Cool, fine, or okay.
• Borbor 🧽 – Dirty or messy.
• Buzu 🌍 – Foreigner or someone from a different tribe.
• Banga 🥣 – Rich and flavorful palm nut soup.
• Banty 🧸 – Small or diminutive in size.
• Baffs 🕶️ – Fancy clothes or outfits.
• Breezy 😌 – Relaxed or easy-going.

C

• Chop 🍽️ – To eat or enjoy food.
• Chop-chop ⏩ – Quickly or to do something in a hurry.
• Cabash 🧿 – Curse or spiritual attack.
• Chook 🔪 – Pierce or stab.
• Chaw 🍖 – Eat or chew.
• Correct 👌 – Good or excellent.
• Come chop 🍲 – Invitation to eat.
• Corner-corner 🤫 – Secretive or dubious activities.
• Craze 🤪 – Madness or insanity.
• Cross 😠 – Angry or annoyed.
• Cunny 🦊 – Cunning or sly behavior.
• Chasis 🏋️ – Punishment or beating.
• Chinchin 🍪 – A crunchy, fried snack.
• Chei! 😱 – Exclamation of shock or disbelief.
• Chop Life 😎 – To Enjoy or to live life
• Chop knuckle 👊 – Give a fist bump.
• Cotch 🛋️ – To relax or sit casually.
• Cassava 🥔 – A staple tuber or the flour made from it.
• Caba 🚖 – Cab or taxi.
• Collabo 🤝 – Collaboration or partnership.
• Champ 🏆 – Champion or winner.
• Charge ⚡ – Energize or motivate.
• Chop money 💸 – Spend money, particularly on enjoyment.
• Chikito 👩‍🦰 – Young girl or attractive lady.
• Chinap 🚔 – To catch or arrest.
• Chinchinga 🍢 – Grilled meat skewer.

D

• Dey 📍 – To exist or to be present.
• Dey Play 🙃 – often used to convey that someone is joking or not being serious. It’s similar to saying “just kidding” or “playing around” in English
• Dash 🎁 – To give something freely.
• Danfo 🚌 – Yellow passenger buses in Nigeria.
• Dada 💂‍♂️ – Dreadlocks or someone with natural knotted hair.
• Dem 👥 – They or them.
• Dodo 🍌 – Fried plantain.
• Draff 🗑️ – Trash or something worthless.
• Dundee 🦐 – Prawns or large shrimp.
• Duro ⏸️ – Wait or stop.
• Di 💑 – Have or own.
• Dun 😋 – Sweet or delicious.
• Denge 🚶 – Pose or show off.
• Dollar 💵 – Money or wealth.
• Dada 🧒 – Child or baby.
• Domot 🏠 – Home or house.
• Dey play 😜 – Joking or not serious.
• Dregz 👖 – Trousers or pants.

E

• Eh yah! 😟 – Expression of sympathy.
• Ego 💰 – Money.
• E dey ✔️ – It’s there or it exists.
• Eko 🌆 – Lagos city.
• E go be – It will be okay or things will work out.
• Eh yah! – An expression of sympathy or pity.
• E dey – It is there or something exists.
• E no easy – It’s not easy; acknowledging hardship.
• E get as e be – Things are somewhat off or there’s a catch to the situation.
• Ehen – Used to express realization or affirmation.
• Ewedu 🌿 – Jute leaf soup.

F

• Fall hand 🤦‍♂️ – To disappoint or fail expectations.
• Fashi 🙅‍♂️ – To ignore or disregard.
• Find 🔍 – To look for or search.
• Fire down 🔥 – Eat voraciously or quickly.
• Flex 🕺 – To hang out, relax, or enjoy oneself.

G

• Gala 🌭 – A brand of sausage roll.
• Gbam 💥 – Exactly or correct.
• Gbedu 🎵 – Music or part.
• Gbege – Trouble or complication.
• Go slow – Traffic jam or delay.
• Gist – Chat, gossip, or story.

H

• How far? 🖐️ – How are you? or What’s happening?
• Hala 🗣️ – Shout or call attention to.
• Hustle 💼 – To work hard or struggle.
• Haba 😠 – Expression of disbelief or reproof.
• Hammer 🛠️ – To become very successful or rich.

I

• I beg 🙏 – Please or used to express a request.
• Igbo 🌿 – Cannabis, sometimes used to refer to being high.
• Inshure 🤞 – Ensure or make certain.
• I chop 🍽️ – I have eaten or I am full.

J

• Jara ➕ – Extra or bonus.
• Jolly 😄 – To enjoy or have a good time.
• JJC (Johnny Just Come) 🆕 – A newbie or someone new to an area or situation.
• Jam 🤼 – Meet unexpectedly or collide.
• Jita 🗣️ – Gossip or spreading rumors.

K

• Kolo 🤪 – Crazy or mad.
• Kpatakpata 🙌 – Completely or totally.
• K-leg 🦵 – Problem or something wrong.
• Kai! 😲 – Exclamation of surprise or shock.
• Kpele 🤗 – Sorry or sympathy.

L

• Lamba 💬 – Story or sweet talk.
• Lai Lai ❌ – Never or no way.
• Levels 📈 – Status or situation.
• Lele ⏰ – Right now or immediately.
• Las las 😌 – Eventually or in the end.

M

• Maga 🎣 – A gullible person or victim of a scam.
• Mumu 🤦 – Fool or simpleton.
• Maro ✋ – Don’t or stop it.
• Mata 🤷‍♂️ – Matter, issue, or subject.
• Moin-Moin 🥘 – A steamed bean pudding, sometimes used to refer to something soft or easy.

N

• No wahala 👌 – No problem or no worries.
• Na so 👍 – That’s it or that’s how it is.
• Nawa 😳 – Expression of disbelief or wonder.
• Nor/Nor 🚫 – No or don’t.
• Nyash 🍑 – Buttocks or rear end.

O

• Oga 👨‍⚖️ – Boss or leader.
• Oyibo 🧑‍🦳 – A white person or foreigner.
• Opor 🎉 – Plenty or abundant.
• Ole 🦹‍♂️ – Thief or lazy person.
• Okada 🏍️ – Motorcycle taxi.

P

• Padi 👬 – Friend or pal.
• Palava 😤 – Trouble or problem.
• Pepper 🌶️ – To beat or add spice, metaphorically meaning adding intensity or trouble.
• Pikin 👶 – Child or kid.
• Pack 🧳 – Leave or go away.

Q

• Quench 💤 – To stop functioning or die out.
• Quick Quick ⏰ – Quickly

R

• Runz 👠 – Engaging in promiscuous activities, often for money.
• Rush 🏃‍♂️ – Hurry or do quickly.
• Riff-Raff 🚶‍♂️ – Undesirable people or troublemakers.

S

• Sabi 🧠 – To know or understand.
• Sakara 🎭 – Empty boast or act foolishly.
• Send 📤 – To disregard or ignore.
• Shakara 💃 – Show off or pretense.
• Skata 💥 – Scatter or ruin.

T

• Troway 🗑️ – Throw away or discard.
• Tush 🎩 – Sophisticated or classy.
• Tok 💬 – Talk or speak.
• Tatafo 🗣️ – Gossip or tattletale.
• Twale 🙇‍♂️ – Salute or well done.

U

• Una 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 – You (plural).
• Uptown 🌆 – Sophisticated or high-class area.

V

• Vex 😡 – To become angry or annoyed.
• Vamoose 🏃‍♂️ – Leave quickly or disappear.

W

• Wahala 😩 – Trouble or problem.
• Waka 🚶‍♂️ – Walk or go away.
• Wetin ❓ – What.
• Winch 👿 – Witch or a wicked person.
• Wuru Wuru 🐍 – To do something shadily or dishonestly.

X

• Xtra ➕ – Extra or more than the usual.
• Xerox 📄 – examination or homework malpractice of copying someone’s work

Y

• Yarn 💬 – Talk or converse.
• Yawa 😵 – Problem or embarrassment.
• Yab 😜 – Insult or make fun of.
• Yimu 😒 – Gesture of scorn or disbelief.
• Yori Yori 😊 – Feeling good or sweet.

Z

• Zanga 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 – A crowd or large group of people.
• Zoom 🏎️ – Move quickly or focus in photography.
• Zobo 🍹 – A popular hibiscus drink, sometimes referring to something fake or unbelievable.