Nigeria is a country full of vibrant cultures, lively people, and a unique way of expressing ideas. One of the most exciting parts of Nigerian communication is its slang – colorful phrases and words that you’ll hear in markets, on the streets, at parties, and even in offices.
These slangs often come from Nigerian Pidgin English, but some are borrowed from local languages like Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa. They make conversations fun, expressive, and deeply cultural. If you want to blend in when chatting with Nigerians, knowing these slangs will be a huge plus.
Here are 50 Nigerian slangs, their meanings, and how to use them.
1. Wahala
Meaning: Trouble or problem.
Example: “No wahala” means “No problem.”
2. How Far?
Meaning: A casual greeting similar to “What’s up?”
Example: “How far, bro?”
3. Omo
Meaning: Child or buddy, but can also be an exclamation.
Example: “Omo, today na stress!”
4. Abeg
Meaning: Please or I beg you.
Example: “Abeg, help me with small money.”
5. Ehen
Meaning: Used to confirm understanding or as a reaction.
Example: “Ehen! So you sabi the truth now?”
6. Na Wa
Meaning: Expression of surprise or disbelief.
Example: “Na wa for you, you no dey tire?”
7. Sabi
Meaning: To know or understand something.
Example: “I sabi cook jollof rice.”
8. Jare
Meaning: Used to soften a sentence, similar to “please” or “dear.”
Example: “Come here, jare.”
9. Naija
Meaning: A nickname for Nigeria.
Example: “Naija no dey carry last.”
10. Ehen Now
Meaning: Used to encourage someone or confirm an action.
Example: “Ehen now, do am sharp-sharp.”
11. Pepper Don Rest
Meaning: Things are going well financially.
Example: “Since he start business, pepper don rest.”
12. Chop
Meaning: To eat or to enjoy benefits.
Example: “Come make we chop rice.”
13. No Dey Form
Meaning: Stop pretending.
Example: “No dey form rich guy.”
14. Shikena
Meaning: That’s all / case closed.
Example: “I don talk my own, shikena.”
15. Ajebo
Meaning: Someone from a rich or pampered background.
Example: “You be ajebo, you no sabi suffer.”
16. Area Boy
Meaning: Street-smart or tough guy.
Example: “Area boys dey for the junction.”
17. Gist
Meaning: Talk or gossip.
Example: “Come, I get better gist for you.”
18. Scatter Ground
Meaning: To make a big impression at an event.
Example: “That performance scatter ground.”
19. E Choke
Meaning: Expression for shock or excitement (popularized by Davido).
Example: “See your new car, e choke!”
20. You Dey Whine Me?
Meaning: Are you joking or teasing me?
Example: “You dey whine me ni?”
21. Amebo
Meaning: A gossip or busybody.
Example: “Stop to dey do amebo.”
22. Carry Go
Meaning: Proceed without fear.
Example: “Everything dey okay, carry go.”
23. Na You Know
Meaning: It’s your decision or business.
Example: “If you wan marry am, na you know.”
24. I No Send You
Meaning: I don’t care about you.
Example: “Talk anything you like, I no send you.”
25. Sharp-Sharp
Meaning: Quickly or immediately.
Example: “Do am sharp-sharp before rain start.”
26. Yawa Don Gas
Meaning: Trouble has happened.
Example: “Yawa don gas for that place.”
27. Make We Run Am
Meaning: Let’s do it.
Example: “The plan make sense, make we run am.”
28. Na God Win
Meaning: It’s God’s doing.
Example: “I get promotion, na God win.”
29. Burst My Brain
Meaning: Amazed or shocked in a good way.
Example: “That news burst my brain.”
30. Wetin Dey Happen?
Meaning: What’s going on?
Example: “Wetin dey happen for town?”
31. Na True You Talk
Meaning: You’re right.
Example: “Na true you talk about fuel price.”
32. E No Easy
Meaning: It’s not simple.
Example: “To hustle for Lagos, e no easy.”
33. Beta Pikin
Meaning: A good child.
Example: “You be beta pikin for helping mama.”
34. This One Na Confirm
Meaning: This is genuine or real.
Example: “This deal na confirm.”
35. No Be Small Thing
Meaning: It’s a big deal.
Example: “The traffic today, no be small thing.”
36. Who Dey Breathe?
Meaning: Used to mock someone showing off.
Example: “New phone? Who dey breathe?”
37. Hustle
Meaning: Work hard or struggle for success.
Example: “Man must hustle to survive.”
38. Beta
Meaning: Better.
Example: “This one beta pass the other one.”
39. Oya
Meaning: Let’s go / move on.
Example: “Oya, enter motor.”
40. Japa
Meaning: To run away, especially to another country.
Example: “He don japa go Canada.”
41. Shey You Dey Hear?
Meaning: Do you understand?
Example: “Shey you dey hear wetin I talk?”
42. Code
Meaning: Secret or discreet action.
Example: “We go do am on a low, code.”
43. Na So
Meaning: That’s right or agreed.
Example: “Na so life be.”
44. No Carry Last
Meaning: Don’t be left behind.
Example: “We go win, Naija no carry last.”
45. Wahala Be Like Bicycle
Meaning: Trouble is never far away.
Example: “See am, wahala be like bicycle.”
46. Dey Your Lane
Meaning: Mind your business.
Example: “Abeg, dey your lane.”
47. Go Slow
Meaning: Traffic jam.
Example: “Go slow don hold road.”
48. Hold Body
Meaning: Stay calm.
Example: “Hold body, help dey come.”
49. Beta Soup Na Money Kill Am
Meaning: Good things cost money.
Example: “You like this wedding? Beta soup na money kill am.”
50. Na Wetin We Dey Talk Be That
Meaning: That’s exactly what we’re saying.
Example: “Yes, na wetin we dey talk be that.”
Why Nigerian Slangs Are Special
These slangs are not just words – they carry emotion, humor, and cultural pride. They make conversations lively and can even break the ice between strangers. If you’re learning them, listen to Nigerian music, watch Nollywood movies, and follow Nigerian social media pages to see them in action.
Michael
