Popular Made in Nigeria English Words

As we all know. English is the first and official general language we speak in Naija. However, it is very amusing when we hear some words that usually leaves us wondering if English should really be our general language.

Nigerians are good, very good that they are capable of inventing new words anytime and anywhere, so long it will explain the required situation. below are some words that we used on daily basis which can not be found anywhere in the dictionary.

1. Short - Knicker: Why cant we just choose one already? we keep using this words together but its wrong. its either "Shorts" or "Knicker" the British call it "shorts" while Americans call it "knicker", i wonder why we use the two together though.

2. Go-slow: When Nigerians say go-slow, they mean congested traffic, which is wrong. Although this one is actually in the dictionary but its still wrong to use it the way Nigerians do. The meaning of go-slow in the English dictionary is, a form of industrial action in which work or progress is deliberately delayed or slowed
down.

 

3. Installmentally: Huh? what is that....Don’t be tempted to use the word ‘installmentally’. Though it sounds correct, it isn’t. There is no such word in the English dictionary as it only exists only in the Nigerian edition of English language. The correct word is ‘in installments’. 

  
4. Next tomorrow: Well, we all use this one “next tomorrow” but there is not such word as next tomorrow. Instead you should say, “a day after tomorrow”.

5. Pepperish: This is mostly used to describe the burning sensation we feel from eating pepper. Nigerians describe a meal that has too much pepper in it as pepperish. The proper word should be ‘peppery’. No native English speaker uses the word pepperish”

 

6. Cunny: Lol..This is a word Nigerians usually use to describe someone that is being deceitful. Well, the right word is "cunning" not cunny, lets stop being funny!. 

7. Opportuned: Well don't get this one twisted, What exists in English dictionaries is ‘opportune,’ without ‘d’ at the end. Opportune means ‘timely’ or ‘well-time, especially convenient or appropriate for a
particular action or event. Opportuned is only the Nigerian version of the word

8. Flashing: Every Nigerian knows “flashing” to mean when someone calls your mobile phone and cuts off before you answer. The word ‘flash’ is so common among Nigerians and its used at least once daily by many. Flash has different meanings but none has anything to do with a phone call. The word doesn’t exist in that sense in English.

9. Trafigate: Nigerians use the word to describe a situation where a driver indicates to other drivers that he/she wants to take a turn. It is used so often, that it has started to sound like proper English. 

Thanks for reading...please do drop your comments.
 

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