Wetin be dat? Nigerian pidgin English phrase of the week

Dat new moto he get go shak him well-well.

That new car of his makes him wander around in a daze of pleasure.

Wetin be dat? Nigerian pidgin English phrase of the week

Sista! I don told you, but you no dey hear word!

My sister, I told you, but you refused to listen.

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

Abeg--una say, "Make we gist," but now, sha, you wan say my tori get k-leg!

Please--you said we should discuss and trade gossip, but now you want to tell me you don't believe my story!

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

"You no go sabi am!"

"You won't know it!"

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

Dat babe get face-o, but na only pancake nyash.

That girl is pretty, but she has a flat rump.

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

Oboy, how far now?

My friend, how're things going?

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

"We go yarn after."

"We'll tell each other our stories later."

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

E get as e bi.

There's something strange going on.

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

Dat babe be one ITK!

That girl is "I too know"--a knowitall

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

Dat babe too dey shakara!

That girl shows off too much/thinks she's superior

MY PEOPLE SAY--NIGERIAN PROVERB OF THE WEEK

"Money for hand, back for ground." Nigerian English

i.e., like a prostitute, one will do things only after certain assurances are complete.

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

Wetin be your own?

(What's your business with this matter?)

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

"O Boy, come make we wash this your Okada with some cold beer!"
"Wash" means to celebrate a new purchase with a drink, while "Okada" is the name of an Edo town that has come to mean "motorcycle," especially motorcycles used as mini-"taxis."

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

"Na you sabi."

"That's your business, not mine--but you might want to rethink it!"

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

"Monkey dey work, baboon dey chop."

Workers do it all, but the fruits of their harvest are swept up by "big men."

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

Which kine pikin go waka like dat? Shebi she be ashewo?
Which kind of a child goes about carelessly in public? Is she a prostitute?

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

Pidgin English is basically an English vocabulary grafted onto an African grammar, with lots of inventiveness thrown in. Most Nigerians under 70 can speak it--some exclusively, some along with sophisticated standard English. No one wants to give it up--it's too much fun! Hear it in some of the song lyrics in the music videos on our huge screen! Each week pidgin phrases will be presented for you to incorporate into your vocabulary and amuse your Nigerian friends! Pronunciation is phonetic.


"Ol boy, make you see dat fine ikebe super dat pass by now now!"
"My friend, don't miss that girl with the well-shaped big rump that is walking past us!"

WETIN BE DAT? Pidgin English phrase of the week

Pidgin English is basically an English vocabulary grafted onto an African grammar, with lots of inventiveness thrown in. Most Nigerians under 70 can speak it--some exclusively, some along with sophisticated standard English. No one wants to give it up--it's too much fun! Here it in some of the song lyrics in the music videos on our huge screen! Each week pidgin phrases will be presented for you to incorporate into your vocabulary and amuse your Nigerian friends! Pronunciation is phonetic.


"Na wat kine wahala be dat?"
"What kind of trouble is going on?"