As cars swerve through sweaty streets, it can also be heard blaring on Radio Wazobia, a pidgin-only station played in crammed buses, sleek air-conditioned jeeps and roadside food stalls. It's used in slogans scrawled on crumbling walls and flashy billboards. In Lagos, a Nigerian policeman demonstrated how his English-imported spaniel, Milly, "dey hear pidgin well well" as she obeyed a series of pidgin commands. Current affairs, English and local languages are brewed together to dish up playful imagery at breakneck speed. Officially known as Naija, Nigerian pidgin is spoken by tens of millions across the country. See Cult Guy.The reply can range from a chirpy "I dey fine" to a downbeat "Body dey inside cloth," (literally meaning "I'm still wearing clothes"). see how she juss condemn the moto.Ĭondition make crayfish bend: Saying used when one is forced to do the unthinkable due to prevailing financial circumstances.Ĭonfra: University Campus Fraternity. comot road make I pass.Ĭompound: Fenced off house, bungalow or groups of huts.Ĭondemn: Spoilt beyond repair e.g. Dat guy don dey Colo.Ĭomot: 1 Come out 2 Get away! E.g. Any low cut ladies' shoe not bearing laces.Ĭoke and Fanta: Derisory term used to describe the mottled complexion one who uses skin bleaching products.Ĭolo: Loose ones mind e.g. Finish large meal e.g Di guy clear the Eba finis o!Ĭlose eye: Grin and bear it e.g close eye drink dat medicine ojare.Ĭlose marking: Following spouse to every social event for fear of husband or wife snatchers.Ĭock-shoe: Court shoe. Malicious sliding tackle during football game e.g See as them dey clear leg, abi na fight? 3. Getting involved with other peoples buisness.Ĭlear: 1. Stab e.g Why you chuk me naif?Ĭhuk body put: 1. the goat sweats for its life as Christmas draws near.Ĭhuk: 1. which one you dey sweat laik Christmas goat. Nigerian Newspapers MoreĬhristmas goat: Used for one was sweats excessively e.g. you dey chop bottle?Ĭhop money: Monthly or weekly house keeping allowance.Ĭhop-remain: Leftovers of meal. Part of pre fight preamble during which various threats and questions are asked to measure of toughness of the opponent e.g. Embezzle money e.g Dat Oga chop belle-full bifor e retire.Ĭhop bottle: Eat glass. Also - Chinning.Ĭhin-chin: Fried bits of pastry served as appetiser.
News MoreĪrsenal boss Arteta admits Pepe not up to expectations TribalFootballĬharacteristics of Tombo: Sang to the tune of Michael Jackson's You wanna be starting something. Bodi dey catch am.Ĭease light: Power failure. To become obsessed with something e.g See how e carry politics for head.Ĭarry go: Used playfully to mean -Get away or Get out of here.Ĭarry woman: verb 1. Not painted in official taxi colours.Ĭarry am for head: 1.Take up too much responsibility for something. Na real carbon copy of im papa.Ĭarbu-carbu: Unregistered taxi cab operating illegally. dem dey call you?Ĭantab: Run full circle and over take fellow athlete in long distance race.Ĭarbon copy: Dead ringer for someone else e.g See im face. Used mainly on University campuses.Ĭall: To be beckoned by unseen forces. Pidgin English Words starting with "C"Ĭaff: Cafeteria. Previous Page Next Page Babawilly's Dictionary of Pidgin English Words and Phrases.