ATTENTION !! ATTENTION !!! 🇳🇬🇳🇬
Here are Yoruba words that have found their way into Nigerian Pidgin 🇳🇬 “REPOST, LIKE “
Common Nigerian Pidgin words coined from the Yoruba Language
Naija – From ‘Nàíjá’ (A coinage) – How early Yoruba musicians and socialites in cities like Lagos and Ibadan fondly called Nigeria in the 70s, 80s, 90s. i.e K1 Ayinde, Omo Naija
Oga – From ‘Ọ̀gá’ – Boss, Master
Abi – From ‘Àbí’ – Interrogative, Conjuctive (Or)
Shebi – From ‘Ṣebí’ – Interrogative
Nko – From ‘Ńkọ́’ – Interrogative, How about?
Jo/Jor – From ‘Jọ̀ọ́/Jọ̀wọ́’ – Please, Appeal
Sha – From ‘Ṣá’ – Qualifier, Just, Anyhow
Koro – From ‘Kọ̀rọ̀’ – A corner, A shady alley
Lai Lai – From ‘Laílaí/Láyé láyé’ – Never or Perpetuity
Jeje – From ‘Jẹ́jẹ́’ – Calmly, Without disturbance
Ojoro – From ‘Òjóró’ – Cheating, Fraud
Se (Shey) – From ‘Ṣé’ – Interrogative
Gbedu – From ‘Gbẹ̀du’ – Ancestral drum, Musical beat
Gidigba – From ‘Gìdìgbà’ – Large, Solidly
Wuruwuru – From ‘Wúruwùru’ – Disorderly, Jumbled
Kuku – From ‘Kúkú’ – Decidedly, Finally, Anyways, Rather, An adverb
Omo – From ‘Ọmọ’ – Child, Baby, has taken multiple contextual meanings
Gragra – From ‘Gìrà gìrà’ – Brashly, Hastily, Brazen
Patapata – From ‘Pátá pátá’ – All encompassing, Supreme, Completely, Altogether
Japa – From ‘Jápa’ – The perfect Escape, Flee, remove oneself from a situation
Were/Werey – From ‘Wèrè’ – A mental misfit, Insanity
Jare – From ‘Jàre’ – As you please, Other uses
Oyinbo – From ‘Òyìnbó’ – A white person, Western mannerisms
Oya – From ‘Óyá’ – Confirmatory. To begin/Start; Also ‘Quickly’ when repeated ‘Oya oya oya’
Dada – From ‘Dàda’ – Dreadlocks
Olopa – From ‘Ọlọ́pá’ – Police, Lit: Baton/stick handler
Tokunbo – From ‘Tòkunbọ̀’ – Imported goods, Lit: From across the sea)
Boli/Bole – From ‘Bọ̀lẹ̀’ – Roasted plantain
Moi Moi – From ‘Mọ́í Mọ́í’ – A meal made from beans
Akara – From ‘Àkàrà’ – A Yoruba food made from beans
Ipekere – From ‘Ipékeré’ – Fried plantain slices
Eba – From ‘Ẹ̀bà’ – Meal made from garri and hot water
Dodo – From ‘Dòdò’ – Food made by frying plantain
Asun – From ‘Àsun’ – Spicy roasted meat from Ondo
Otilo – From Ó ti lo’ – It’s gone/over’, Dismissed
Ni – From ‘Ni’ – Interrogative ending
Ikebe – From ‘Iké’ & ‘Bèbè’ – Hump/Arch & Backside respectively. A curvy rump
Pako – From ‘Pákó’ – A wooden plank
Shayo – From ‘Ṣáyó’ – To drink alcohol
Osusu/Esusu – From ‘Èsùsú’ – Rotating savings/credit
Agbada – From ‘Agbádá’ – Yoruba three-piece clothing
Jedijedi – From ‘Jẹ̀díjẹ̀dí’ – Condition of diarrhea
Dabaru – From ‘Dàbàrú’ – To Disorganize, Entangle
Yeye – From ‘Yẹ̀yẹ́’ – Make fun of, Deride
Pali – From ‘Pálí’ – Certificate/Credential. Lit: ‘Carton’
Igbo – From ‘Igbó’ – Marijuana, Indian hemp.
Gele – From ‘Gélé’ – Headtie, Headwrap
Ode – From ‘Ọ̀dẹ̀’ – A fool. Used to be teased by friends
Ogogoro – From ‘Ògùrọ̀’ (Duplication) – Alcoholic raffia
Korokoro – From ‘KòróKòró’ – Bare view (of someone)
Shakara – From ‘Ṣakọ’ ‘rá’ – Pride, haughty, being vain
Shalaye – From ‘Ṣàlàyé’ – To explain
Koko – From ‘Kókó’ – Main point (being made)
A kor, Z ni – From ‘Kọ́/Ni’ – A Yoruba oxymoron wordplay used to dismiss
Pangolo – From ‘Páńgolo’ – Metal canister
Asoebi – From ‘Aṣọ Ẹbí’ – Uniform clothing, Lit: Family cloth
Asewo/Asawo – From ‘Aṣẹ́wó’ – Someone of easy virtue
Yakata – From ‘Yàkàtà’ – Astride, Wide apart, Lit: Part laps
Suegbe – From ‘Sùẹ̀gbẹ̀’ – Slothful, Not street smart
Buga – From ‘Bùgá’ – To brag, be boastful
Jaguda – From ‘Jàgùdà’ – A thief or rogue
Watch out for part 2