Slangs in Nigeria Episode 2

Slangs in Nigeria Episode 2

Slangs in Nigeria Episode 2

By Razzak Osemobor | June 9, 2026

The significance of communication is effective communication. In this regard, someone who speaks a lot of vocabularies and fluent English may end up not communicating to a category of people. Just as English language is a global language, Pidgin language is widely spoken among Nigerian citizens, engaging both educated, less educated, traders and artisans.

This episode continues some common Nigerian slangs. Though they are broad like a dictionary, a few will be highlighted.

  • Dey play: To mean you aren't serious or not following up.
  • Ekelebe: Ekelebe means Police.
  • Chao: “You don chao?” means have you eaten.
  • Kala: Kala means Gun.
  • Buzz me/Bell me: This means call me or give me a missed call. Example: “Buzz me when you reach house.”
  • Gallant/Active: This means being okay, confident, available, lively, or ready depending on the situation. Example: “I dey gallant” (I’m fine/doing okay) or “I dey active” (I’m ready or available).
  • Jones: This means behaving strangely, unseriously, unnecessarily dramatic, or acting out of place. Example: “Why you dey Jones?”
  • Press: This refers to engaging in internet fraud or suspicious online hustling in some Nigerian street slang. Example: “That guy dey press.”
  • Picker: A person who receives, withdraws, or helps move money from a deal or transfer, especially in street or fraud-related slang. Example: “Na picker collect the money.”
  • Hammer: For example, “I don hammer” means I am made. That's break even.
  • Happy ending: A business ending in romance or sexual activity.
  • Gas up: “He don gas up” means he is extremely tired. Sometimes said to mock someone getting tired in a few minutes.
  • Panti: This means prison.
  • Olosho: This means a whore.
  • One night stand: A sexual encounter between people for one night without expectation of a relationship.
  • Para: “I dey para” means I am angry.
  • E sharp: Means make sense.

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  • No dulling: Act smart.
  • Banjo: Derived from Yoruba to mean fake or a low-quality item.
  • Ote: Derived from Yoruba to mean original.
  • Huzz: Refers to smell and said this way; “Wetin dey huzz?”
  • Lepa: Derived from Yoruba to mean someone skinny.
  • Orobo: Also derived from Yoruba to mean someone fat.
  • High: To be intoxicated by drugs or drinks.
  • No quams: Accepted or no problem.
  • Legit: Original. Can vary in usage in terms of documentations, advertisement, jobs and ways of earning.

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  • Correct: A slang for being on one's side or saying the right thing expected.
  • Last last: A word used in place of “the end shall tell” and an assurance of benefiting from something even if it takes time.
  • Alaye: Means guy, friend, or someone being addressed informally.
  • Bad market: An unsuccessful business deal.

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Enjoy as they are not overly complex to understand. Stay tuned for something more as I conclude the series on slangs in Nigeria.

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