At the start of the year, 29 Nigerian English words and phrase were added to the Oxford English Dictionary. So, we decided to gather 13 definitions to see if you can identify which Nigerianism they are meant to represent.
Go ahead:
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The unintentional sequel to ‘A List of Some of Our Favorite Nigerianisms‘.
1. “Show you pepper.”
A Nigerianism for hot revenge, basically.
2. “Dress for me.”
A Nigerianism that really just means ‘move or shift’.
3. “Hear the smell.”
Bruh, how do you “hear” smell?
4. “I’m coming.”
It’s extra confusing because they say it while they are leaving.
5. “How market?”
A Nigerianism for “how’s life?”
6. “Lying on me.”
They actually mean lie ‘against’ me.
7. “Siddon there.”
They really mean “don’t dull yourself”.
8. “Dey your lane.”
A Nigerianism for ‘mind your business’.
9. “Shine your eye.”
A Nigerianism for ‘don’t be naive’.
10. “Fall my hand.”
A Nigerianism for ‘let me down’.
11. “Before nko?”
A Nigerianism for ‘what did you expect?’
12. “If I hear.”
They actually mean it’s impossible.
13. “If you like, don’t…”
It may sound like a suggestion, but it’s not. They mean you better do it.
14. “It’s not your fault.”
Don’t fall for it. They mean it’s actually your fault.
15. “Is it fair?”
A rhetorical Nigerianism for ‘it’s not fair’.
16. “How far?”
It’s not a measure of distance, it’s a Nigerianism for ‘how are you?’
17. “Who sent you message?”
A Nigerianism for ‘nobody asked you to do that’.