15 Popular Nigerian Slangs and Their Meanings (No. 9 is For The Street)
3 minute read
If you live in Nigeria, then you will be familiar with some
of the Nigerian slangs being used here and there. These slangs are some
of the things that make Nigeria interesting as a country.
Find below some of the slangs used in Nigeria we compiled for you:
1. Gbera

This is one of the latest slangs in town. Gbera means move.
Conductors often say it to the bus drivers while they are working. But
when you are in some areas and this slang is being said with no danfo in
view, you should become conscious as thieves who pick pockets use it in
signaling to each other.
You may have to hold on to your bags tightly and leave that vicinity as soon as possible.
2. Twale
This slang is used when giving honor to someone. It is a way of
showing respect to people in the street. Many guys who live in the
streets use this slang to pay respect to those who belong to a hierarchy
higher than theirs. When this slang is used, the two hands are raised
above the head as a sign of total submission.
3. Fashi or bone

When you hear a Nigerian say ‘bone’, do not think he or she is
talking about the skeletal part of an animal or human being. This slang
means to let go of something. This is the same as ‘fashi’. When it is
being used in arguments, the speaker wants the issue or matter
forgotten.
4. Ja
When Nigerians say ‘ja’, it means to escape. They use it when
relaying their experiences about a situation where they had to run for
their safety. This is different from having to cut a substance like the
Yoruba meaning of break.
5. Akata

This is a popular slang in Nigeria as it is being used for whites.
6. Jand
When a Nigeria talks about jand, he is talking about shifting base
and leaving the country. Nigerians say ‘jand’ in place of abroad.
7. Chelsea and barca

When Nigerians use this slang, they are referring to the butts and
b00bs of a woman. It could be misleading as people could think they are
talking about football; barca means butts for most Nigerians.
8. Fall hand
Nigerians often use this slang while speaking pidgin. It means to be disappointed.
9. Gbana

Lagosians use gbana when talking about marijuana. There are different
slangs used when talking about marijuana; some use ‘eja’ while others
use weewee, and skonk.
10. Butty
When Nigerians refer to some people as butty, they mean they are over pampered and spoilt. It is a widely used slang in Nigeria.
11. Cowbell

There is a brand of milk sold in Nigeria that is called cowbell; but
when Nigerians talk about cowbell, they are referring to a woman’s
BR*ASTS. This is usually used when the person’s BR*ASTS are very large.
12. Guck
This slang means to fall for a lie or believe something without checking to see if it is true or not.
13. Jambito

This is a slang that is commonly used in universities in Nigeria. It
is used when referring to first year undergraduates. They are easy to
spot because of their mode of dressing and the lost looks they have
plastered on their faces for a while.
14. Aro or yaba left

When this slang is used for a person, the person is being told to go
for mental checkup as the person is suspected to be psychologically
unwell.
15. Yawa

This is another popular slang used in Nigeria. This slang could mean
insult or embarrassment or trouble depending on the context in which it
is being used.
Source:Naij
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