Nigeria Slang Dictionary

Nigerian slang is the heartbeat of Africa's most populous nation - a fast-moving blend of Nigerian Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa that powers everyday conversation from Lagos to Abuja to Port Harcourt. It's the language of Afrobeats lyrics, Nollywood scripts, comedy skits and WhatsApp group chats. Words like abeg, wahala, japa and how far travel far beyond Nigeria's borders through music and social media. Below is a growing, community-built dictionary of Naija slang - and if a word you know is missing, you can add it.

ode

dunse untrained
Example

that boy is an ode

Zack Grealish 23 February 2025
To stand and be at alert or wait.
Example

Pozi for here. Meaning wait for (me) here.



Pozi make dem no loss you. Stand at alert so that you're not pickpocketed

Abioye 07 December 2024
These word BOTTY stand for a person which comes from a rich background
Example

Soyinka is a botty boy

Muhammed 28 November 2024
These word EFIKO stand for a brilliant person
Example

Tolu is an efiko of our class

Muhammed 28 November 2024
Chop rice is a Nigerian slang term that means “eat rice”.
Example

Ehhhhh. Chop rice, chop rice, chop rice.

Adeola 25 November 2024
Prostitute, escort
Example

"That girl na olosho." Meaning "That girl is a prostitute"

Admin 19 November 2024
Abeg simply means Please. Its a word derived from "I beg"
Example

Abeg, give me money.

Admin 19 November 2024
Yawa is a slang for problem or trouble.
Example

"That girl na yawa" meaning That is trouble.

Admin 19 November 2024
Comot is a Nigerian pidgin term that means 'go', 'leave', or 'get out!'
Example

Make we comot (Let us go out)

Comot from dia ( leave)

Comot! (Get out!)

Adeola 31 May 2024
Wahala is a Nigerian slang term that means trouble.
Example

Your wife is suspecting us, I don't want wahala.

Adeola 31 May 2024
Conservative, miserly, cheap or

Extreemly stingy.
Example

He eats once a day to save money." He wan do tight- yansh".

Oscar 24 May 2024
Jaga-jaga is a Nigerian slang term that means disorganised or disorderly.
Example

Oboy, that beb na jaga jaga gal.

Adeola 15 May 2024

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