Lagos words and phrases

There are over 500 distinct languages spoken in Nigeria. The three most prominent languages are Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo. In Lagos, you will here these languages spoken with Yoruba and pidgin English dominating. Many Lagosians speak at least two languages and most understand English. Find below a translation of some commonly used phrases.

419 (also known as ‘nineteen’) – any type of fraud
505 – type of car
A drop – one- way taxi
Ah-haa – expression of surprise or indignation
Agbada – Yoruba garment for men made of 10 yards of material
Ariya – Yoruba word for enjoyment, having a good time

Babariga – Hausa word for Agbada
Been to’s – those who have been away and have solutions to everything
Black shirt – policeman
Boubou – caftan-like dress
Buka - chop house (usually makeshift)

Chop – a meal
Close – stop work
Dailies – newspapers
Danfo – small yellow public vans
Dash – tip or bribe (verb and noun)
Disting – this thing
Do-do – fried plantain
Done come – has come
Down down – a long way down

Ease yourself – go to the toilet
FESTAC – Festival of Arts and Culture hosted in Lagos in 1977 for exorbitant amount legacy being the rapidly sinking National Theatre at Iganmu and Festac Town
Flying boat – motorboat
Gari – a food staple made from cassava
Go-slow – traffic jam
GRA – Government Reserved Area, housing areas for top civil servants during the colonial era

Hello – I can’t hear you
Holdup – traffic jam
How now? – How are you?
How we go? – Where do you want to go?
How’s your body? – How are you feeling?
How was the night? – You sleep well?

I’m coming – I’ll be back
In sha Allah – God willing
Kabu Kabu – unmarked taxis or buses (Hausa)
Kobo – Nigerian coins
Make I come? – Should I come?
Minerals – soft drinks
Molue – big yellow public bus
More grease to your elbow – may God continue to bless you
Moto – car
Move for front small – go forward a little

Naira – Nigerian money
NEPA – Nigerian Electric Power Agency (Never Expect Power Again)
NITEL – Nigerian telephone company
No horning – don’t beep
Now now – immediately

Oba – traditional Yoruba King
O dabo – goodbye
Off it – switch off
On it – switch on
Oga – boss
Okada – motorbike taxi
Ole – a thief
On seat – in the office
Oyinbo – white person or foreigner

Pickin’- baby or child
Pieces – Naira notes
Pijot – peujot
Quenched – forever broken
Raincoat – condom
Sabi – to know (pidgin, Portuguese)
Sistah or Brudda – anybody from the same village
Small chop – snack
Sorry-o – expression of sympathy
Suya – spicy brochettes

Take leg – walk
Tokunbo – used items e.g. cars, clothes, electronics etc.
Tossed – out of order
To get belle- to be pregnant
Wahalla – trouble
Waist pain – stomach problem
Welcome – hello
Well done – everything’s great
Yellow fever – traffic officer
You dey - Are you in?