Get Up On Your Naija Slang with Yvonne Orji

Like it or not you prolly Nigerian! Therefore you are blessed! If you were born in the United States, someone in your family lineage is almost guaranteed to be an African Giant, gifting you some extra Flavour and African swag! And even if you are not Nigerian, it’s probable you know someone who is. In fact, Nigerians rank third as the top birthplace for Black immigrants in the U.S. between 2000 and 2019 behind Haitians and number one, Jamaicans. And if you live in Houston aka “HTown” aka “Baby Lagos” you are definitely in the third coast with one of the most dense Nigerian communities in the America’s. 

The exchange of music, as afrobeats joins the world stage, the pot melds with jambalaya and jollof, barbecue and suya. The mixture of social identities, Blackness and Africaness x Originality shapes what is defined as Black American culture. At the core African traditional spirituality resurrects, emerging into and undercurrent of mainstream culture to re-member us BLACK together as one global people.

So while everyone is getting reacquainted, why not learn the lingo of your distant cousins or closest of kin to better understand vibe and connect, deeper.  

Pop Quiz o!

1. SHINE YOUR EYE
2. YOU DEY CRAZE
3. BADDO
4. YASH
5. OLODO
6. AMEBO
7. ASHEWO 
8. RESPECT YOURSELF
9. SEE YOUR LIFE
10. I.G.J.B.
11. FINE BOI
12. LEARNER
13. LONGA THROAT
14. NA YOU BIKO
15. NO WAHALA
16. NAWA FOR YOU
17. I NO SABI
18. TUFIAKWA
19. WAWU 
20. YOU GO WOUND O
21. HOW BODI?

Check your answers…

1. Make up on the eyes
2. Are you crazy ie to someone with no sense
3. Fresh o! Fly AF
4. Blessed with booty
5. A fool, an idiot, dum dum
6. A gossip
7. Literally a prostitute or a thot
8. a warning. squint point, warning, ‘my friend’ 
9. Check ya self before ya wreck ya self or flattery
10. “I just got back” western passport kids
11. A fox, handsome, a fine boy with no pimples
12. Novice, you’re not experienced at your job or task
13. Want more food
14. Now you’re the one, flattery, compliment
15. No problem, no beef, have no issue
16. I’m sorry for you ie. like see your life
17. I don’t know
18. I rebuke that! Oh no! God forbid! snap your fingers when you say it
19. WOW on NAIAJA, for positive (loud) or negative (soft)
20. You’re so beautiful you wound me
21. How’s your body, how are you? 

Are you an olodo? Ah nawa for you…

Check out Naija Lingo to learn more Nigerian Pidgin English!