Common Nigerian Pidgin words from Yoruba Language

 

Common Nigerian Pidgin words from 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 ones self 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 good, 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 funof, 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 tease 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

Kondo - From 'Kóndó' - Club, Mace, Bludgeon

Shombo - From 'Ṣọ̀nbọ̀' - A Kind of pepper

Keke - From 'Kẹ̀kẹ́' - Originally bicycle (Also tricycle)

Oshey/Oshe - From 'Oṣé' - Endearing appreciation

Jagbajantis - Anglicization of 'Jágbajàgba' -Rubbish 

Olodo - From 'Olódo' - A dunce

Jaburata - From 'Jaburata' - Plentiful, Excessive

Yapa - From 'Yapa' - Plentiful, Excessive

Akata - From 'Akátá' - A black person that has acculturized abroad

Ajala - From 'Àjàlá' - Explorer, Waka about, Jetsetter

Atarodo - From 'Ata Rodo' - A Kind of pepper

Berekete - From 'Bẹ̀rẹ̀kẹ̀tẹ̀' - Plentiful, Large, Huge

Agbo - From 'Àgbo' - Medicinal concoction, Herbs

Akpere - From 'Apẹ̀rẹ̀' - Basket, Poor goalkeeper, Loquacious

Orishirishi - From 'Oríṣiríṣi - Assorted food, Eclectic (In discussion)

Kelebe - From 'Kẹ̀lẹ̀bẹ̀' - Phlegm, Mucur

Agbero - From 'Agbèròo' - Crowd collector. Other meanings

Agidi - From 'Agídí' - Strong headed, Obstinacy 

Fashi - From 'Fáṣí' - Let go of something

Bam - From 'Bámbám' - Wholly, Fully

The greatest local linguistic influence and content contribution to the vocabulary of Nigerian Pidgin/ English today is the Yoruba language. 

Some of these words have even been added to the English language dictionary e.g 'Danfo' and 'Tokunbo', together with those which have been in the English vocabulary for much longer, such as; 'Iroko', 'Chigger' from 'Jìgá', 'Agama' from 'Agẹma', 'Orisha' Etc.

At least if the English language will mess with the spoken Yoruba among some of us, then Yoruba words should also enter the English dictionary and remain there.

This Article is written by AJE NLA (whatsapp +2347031178647).For the following:::

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