In Americanah, written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the characters are from Lagos where they speak a native language and dialect. Have you ever been to a different part of the world and not completely understand what someone is referring to? In this book lye quite a few phrases synonymous with Nigerians such as, “Tina-Tina, how now?” “Why are you looking like a mumu?” “How will you cope/how are you coping?” All familiar Nigerian modes of speech. Reading a book with not only a little cultural background but history makes it all the more fun to read.
Let’s check out a few really cool Nigerian ways of expressions…
There are 521 languages that have been spoken in Nigeria (nine of which are now extinct). The official language of Nigeria, English, the former colonial language, was chosen to facilitate the cultural and linguistic unity of the country. Communication in English language is much more popular in the country’s urban communities than it is in the rural areas (comprising about three quarters of the country’s population).The other major languages are Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba,Ibibio, Edo, Fulfulde, andKanuri.
In this book, they speak Yoruba. Yoruba /ˈjɒrʊbə/[3] (natively èdè Yorùbá) is a Nigerian language spoke in West Africa mainly in Nigeria. The number of speakers of Yoruba was estimated at around 20 million in the 1990s. The native tongue of the Yoruba people is spoken principally in Nigeria.
How are you on learning a new language?
3 Ways to say American phrases in Nigerian dialect:
| Yoruba | Hausa | Igbo | |
| Greetings: Good Morning reply: Good Morning/morning |
Ekaaro/Ekuojomo Ekaaro?Ekuojomo (O) |
Ina Kwana Ina kwana |
Ibolachi Ibolachi |
| How are you? Fine, thank you/I’m fine |
Se daadaa ni/Salaafia ni? Adupe |
Yaya dai/Kana Lafiya? Lafiya lau |
Kedu Ka di Odi mma |
| Greeting Good afternon Reply: Good afternoon |
Ekaasan Ekaasan(O) |
Ina wuni Ina wuni |
Ezigbo ehihi Ezigbo ehihie |
| How are you? Fine, thank you. |
Salaafia ni/Sedaadaa ni? Adupe |
Yaya dai/Kana Lafiya? Lafiya lau |
Kedu Ka di Odi mma |
| Greeting: Good Evening Reply: Good evening |
Ekuirole (Ekaale from 7pm) Ekuirole (O) (Ekaale o) |
Ina wuni Ina wuni |
Mgbede Oma Mgbede Oma |
| How are you? Fine, thank you. |
Se daadaa ni/Salaafia ni? Adupe |
Yaya dai/Kana Lafiya? Lafiya lau |
Kedu Ka di Odi mma |
| Greting: Goodnight Reply: Goodnight |
Odaaro Odaro (O) |
Sai da safe/sai gobe Saida safe/sai gobe |
Kachifo Ka obo o |
| Have a nice sleep | Orun n re lao sun | Mu kwana lafiya | Hie ura Ofuma/nkeoma |
| My friend | Ore mi | Aboki na | Enyim |
| How is Work? | Bawo nise/ise n ko? | Yaya aiki | Kedu Maka Olu? |
| How is family? | Awon ebi n ko? | Ya ya iyali | Kedu maka ezinulo gi? |
| How is wife? | Iyawo re n ko? | Ya ya matan ka? | Kedu maka nwunye gi? |
| How is husband? | Oko re n ko? | Ya ya mijin ki? | Kedu maka digi? |
| How is everything? | Bawo ni n nkan? | Ya ya komi da komi | Kedu Ka ihe di? |
| Come and eat | Wa jeun | Zo ka ci abinci | Bia rie nri |
| Thanks you. | Ese/Aagbabire | na gode | Dalu |
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