Basic Words

1. Yes.

   Usage

   Plain affirmative, same form as English. Among friends people often add the particle o: Yes o

   Grammar Note

   A one-word reply taken straight from English. What makes Pidgin Pidgin shows in the sentences that follow (dey, don, na)

2. No.

   Usage

   Plain negative reply, also used to turn down vendors and touts. The same word negates verbs (I no sabi)

   Grammar Note

   "no" works both as a reply and as the verb negator placed before the verb; Pidgin never uses don't or doesn't

3. Abeg.

   Please.

   Usage

   The everyday word for "please" (from "I beg"). Put it at the start of a request to soften it (Abeg, help me)

   Grammar Note

   "abeg" is a softener, not a conjugated verb. For extra politeness add sir or ma

4. Thank you.

   Usage

   Thank you is used unchanged; among friends Thank you o. Say it after paying or getting directions

   Grammar Note

   Thanks are expressed with the English phrase itself; to intensify add well-well (Thank you well-well)

5. Excuse me.

   Usage

   To get someone's attention or to pass in front of them. Nigerians use the English phrase as is; Abeg also works as a light opener

   Grammar Note

   In polite situations Nigerians switch up to English set phrases; this is the English phrase used as is

6. Sorry o.

   Sorry.

   Usage

   Used to apologise and also to sympathise with someone's bad luck. The particle o adds feeling

   Grammar Note

   "o" is a sentence-final particle that adds emphasis or feeling and can follow almost anything

7. E dey okay.

   It's okay.

   Usage

   Reassures someone or softly declines an offer. No wahala works in much the same way

   Grammar Note

   "dey" replaces is/are, and E is a subject pronoun for he, she or it. Raise the intonation without changing word order to make it a question

8. I no understand.

   I don't understand.

   Usage

   Use when you miss what was said. Not the same as "I no sabi" (I don't know). Follow with Abeg, tok again

   Grammar Note

   Negation is just "no" before the verb, never don't. The same form also covers past negation

9. I understand.

   Usage

   Confirms you followed the explanation so the conversation can move on

   Grammar Note

   The verb never inflects. This simple form is the natural way to say you have got it

10. I don finish.

    I'm finished.

    Usage

    Say it when you have finished a meal, a form or a payment

    Grammar Note

    "don" marks a completed action and goes before the verb; Pidgin has no have + participle

11. Abeg, wait.

    Please wait.

    Usage

    Use it while you look for your wallet or wait for a companion. Abeg makes the imperative polite. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    Imperatives are just the bare verb with no subject. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

12. Wait small.

    Wait a little.

    Usage

    For a few seconds only, at a counter or on the phone

    Grammar Note

    "small" after the verb is an adverb meaning "a little"; the reduplicated small-small means "bit by bit"

13. One adult, abeg.

    One adult, please.

    Usage

    At a ticket window or entrance gate to state your party. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    Numerals are the English ones and the noun after a number stays singular. Abeg may close the sentence as well as open it

14. I no get reservation.

    I don't have a reservation.

    Usage

    The first thing to say when walking into a hotel or restaurant unannounced. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    "Have" is expressed with get, negated as no get; articles are not used. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

15. I get reservation.

    I have a reservation.

    Usage

    Say it at reception before giving your name; show the booking if you have one. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    Possession and existence are expressed with get (I get money). Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

16. Abeg, help me.

    Please help me.

    Usage

    The everyday way to ask for help. In a real emergency shout "Help!" or call 112; abeg is for ordinary requests

    Grammar Note

    "help" never inflects and the object stays "me". Add sir or ma to be more polite

17. Abeg, tok again.

    Please say it again.

    Usage

    For asking someone to repeat; pairs naturally with I no understand. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    "tok" is the Pidgin spelling of the verb "speak"; do not write talk. The adverb again follows the verb

18. Abeg, tok slow-slow.

    Please speak slowly.

    Usage

    When the speed rather than the words is the problem. slow-slow is a reduplicated adverb. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    Adverbs are formed by reduplication (slow-slow, small-small, sharp-sharp), hyphenated, with no -ly

19. I fit tok small.

    I can speak a little.

    Usage

    Say it early so people choose simpler words and slow down. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    "fit" replaces can and goes before the verb; the negative is I no fit tok. It never inflects

20. You fit tok English?

    Can you speak English?

    Usage

    Check for a shared language before complicated business. English is Nigeria's official language, so it often works. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    Questions keep statement word order with rising intonation; there is no Do-inversion

21. Dis one.

    This one.

    Usage

    Point at something within reach. "dis" is the respelling of this

    Grammar Note

    "dis" is the Pidgin respelling of this. When pointing at a thing, add "one": dis one

22. Dat one.

    That one.

    Usage

    Point at something further away. "dat" is the respelling of that

    Grammar Note

    "dat" is the Pidgin respelling of that. Use dis one and dat one as a near/far pair

23. For here.

    Here.

    Usage

    Points at a nearby place. The preposition for covers at, in and to

    Grammar Note

    One preposition, for, covers at, in, on and to

24. For there.

    There.

    Usage

    Points at a place further away; pointing makes it unmistakable

    Grammar Note

    "for there" means "there"; the locative for stands in for at

25. Na me.

    It's me.

    Usage

    Make clear you mean yourself. Na is the identity copula and also adds emphasis. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    Identity is expressed with na (Na me, Na you). Na replaces is/am; for place or state use dey instead

26. Na you.

    It's you.

    Usage

    Point at the other person to say it is them; add sir or ma for elders. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    "you" is singular; for several people use una (Na una). Never use una for a single elder

27. We dey togeda.

    We are together.

    Usage

    Say that you are with someone or want to sit together. "togeda" is the Pidgin spelling. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    "togeda" is the respelling of together. dey marks state or location, and before a verb it marks progressive

28. One pesin.

    One person.

    Usage

    State the number of people for a table or room. pesin is the Pidgin spelling of person, and it stays singular after a number. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    A noun after a number stays singular. pipo (people) is the Pidgin respelling used for groups

29. Two pipo.

    Two people.

    Usage

    State the number of people for a table or room. pipo is the Pidgin spelling of people

    Grammar Note

    pipo is the respelling of people; after a number no plural marker (-s, -dem) is needed

30. Three pipo.

    Three people.

    Usage

    State the number of people for a table or room; show the number with your fingers too

    Grammar Note

    The numerals are the English ones, and after a number the noun is not pluralised

31. Now-now.

    Right now.

    Usage

    Shows something must happen at once. now-now means "right now"

    Grammar Note

    A reduplicated adverb meaning "right now", hyphenated. sharp-sharp is a similar "quickly"

32. Abeg, add more.

    Please add more.

    Usage

    Ask for more while pointing at what you mean; for food and drink refills. Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.

    Grammar Note

    The imperative is the bare verb; "more" follows it

Browse all TravelPhrases languages