Nigerian English: English Vocabulary List

(Nigerian) a university student or graduate

"The acada students studied hard."

"The acada student spent all his time in the library and had no social life whatsoever."

(Nigerian) a wealthy man who dates much younger women and spends money on them

"The aristo lived in a mansion."

"The aristo family owned land for generations and never had to work for a living."

(Nigerian; plural only) stylish or fashionable clothes

"His baff was nice."

"The young man arrived at the party dressed in his finest baff, turning heads with his impeccable style."

(Nigerian) moonshine or illicitly brewed alcohol

"He drank crazy man in bottle."

"The villagers warned him about the dangers of drinking the potent crazy man in the bottle, known for its unpredictable effects."

(Nigerian) used to suggest that someone is being delusional or not making sense

"Dey play. They are joking around."

"Dey play. They are joking around and having fun. Do not take them too seriously."

(Nigerian) used to express awe, amazement, or excitement

"E choke! That is too much."

"E choke! That is too much. I cannot handle any more of this right now. Please stop."

(Nigerian) extremely beautiful, attractive, or captivating

"She looked fanimorous."

"The actress graced the red carpet in a stunning gown, looking absolutely fanimorous under the bright lights."

(Nigerian) to deliberately ignore or neglect someone or something

"Do not fash yourself over small things."

"Do not fash yourself about the small problems because they will likely work themselves out in the end."

(Nigerian) any foreign country, usually referring to places outside Nigeria

"He went to Jand."

"Many Nigerians dream of traveling to Jand to experience a different culture and explore new opportunities abroad."

(Nigerian) describing someone who has lived or traveled abroad, often with foreign influences

"He felt janded."

"After spending a year studying abroad, she returned home feeling quite janded, with a new perspective on life."

(Nigerian) the city of Jos in Nigeria

"They visited J-Town."

"The tourists were eager to explore the vibrant markets and historical sites of J-Town during their trip."

(Nigerian) a street food stall selling traditional Nigerian dishes

"She ate at mama put."

"For a quick and authentic meal, many locals head to the nearest mama put to enjoy delicious traditional dishes."

(Nigerian) moonshine or illicitly brewed alcohol

"He drank push-me-I-push-you."

"They were caught selling bottles of homemade push-me-I-push-you at the local market."

(Nigerian) illegally brewed or homemade alcohol

"He drank cold Sapele water."

"Sapele water was Nigerian slang for gin because the Sapele river supplied water for the distillery."

(Nigerian) a drink, particularly an alcoholic beverage

"Let's have a shack."

"After a long day of negotiations, the weary travelers decided to unwind with a well-deserved shack at the bar."

(Nigerian) a small person, often used affectionately or humorously

"He caught a smallie."

"The young boy proudly showed off the smallie he had caught, hoping it was big enough to cook."

(Nigerian) to insult or disrespect someone

"Don't yabby him."

"It is never acceptable to yabby someone, especially when they are trying their best to achieve their goals."

(Nigerian) dog meat, often used in certain local cuisines

"We ate some 404."

"At the local market, they were selling delicious grilled 404, a popular delicacy in the region."

(Nigerian) to fail, especially in the context of an exam or test

"I will bang."

"Despite all his diligent studying, he unfortunately managed to bang his final examination."

(Nigerian; plural only) food or a meal

"We need more chops."

"After a long day of work, everyone was eager for some delicious chops to eat."

(Nigerian) to unlawfully take something or someone

"They will shift him."

"The corrupt officials were accused of attempting to unlawfully shift the evidence to conceal their involvement."

(Nigerian) teeth

"She has thirty-two."

"The dentist examined her thirty-two teeth, ensuring each one was healthy and free from any cavities."

(Nigerian) a person's village or ancestral hometown

"This is my villa."

"He proudly returned to his ancestral villa to celebrate the traditional festival with his extended family."