Greetings

1. Good morning.

   Good morning

   Usage

   Morning greeting. With elders or officials add sir / ma ("Good morning, sir"). Even in Pidgin, formal greetings are in English

   Grammar Note

   The English greeting is used as is; in formal moments Pidgin speakers greet in English.

2. Good afternoon.

   Good afternoon

   Usage

   Afternoon greeting. Add sir / ma for elders or officials

   Grammar Note

   The English greeting is used as is; in formal moments Pidgin speakers greet in English.

3. Good evening o.

   Good evening

   Usage

   Evening greeting. The final o is a particle adding warmth or emphasis

   Grammar Note

   o is a sentence-final particle for emphasis or warmth and can follow greetings, commands or comments.

4. Hello, sir.

   Hello (respectful general greeting)

   Usage

   A respectful hello to an older man, shopkeeper or official. For a woman use ma instead of sir

   Grammar Note

   Respect is shown not by verb forms but by address terms (sir / ma / oga) and English greetings. (Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.)

5. Welcome o.

   Welcome

   Usage

   For greeting a visitor. In casual settings oyoyo (a word for "welcome") is also heard

   Grammar Note

   The English word welcome followed by the particle o. (Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.)

6. E go be.

   Goodbye / see you later

   Usage

   A casual parting line; It tells someone you will see them later. In formal settings say "Bye, sir/ma"

   Grammar Note

   Learn E go be as a fixed farewell (literally 'it will be'); go marks the future.

7. Thank you.

   Thank you

   Usage

   The standard thanks; the English phrase is used as is. Among friends: Thank you o

   Grammar Note

   The English greeting is used as is; in formal moments Pidgin speakers greet in English.

8. My name na ...

   My name is...

   Usage

   A self-introduction frame; put your name in place of the dots. na is the identity copula "is"

   Grammar Note

   na is the identity copula 'X is Y'. Questions use be instead (Wetin be your name?). (Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.)

9. How you dey?

   How are you?

   Usage

   A greeting between friends and peers; reply I dey fine or I dey o. With elders open with Good morning, sir / ma

   Grammar Note

   Word order stays as in a statement (no inversion). dey is the state copula. 'How you dey' is a widely used greeting.

10. Abeg.

    Please

    Usage

    The basic word for a request, from "I beg". Please is also used, but abeg sounds more Pidgin

    Grammar Note

    abeg is an interjection that softens requests and can come first or last in a sentence.

11. Wia toilet dey?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    The frame for asking where something is: Wia (where) + noun + dey (is located). Add Abeg in front to be polite

    Grammar Note

    The question word comes first and the rest keeps statement order. dey expresses location. (Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.)

12. I no fit tok Pidgin.

    I can't speak Pidgin

    Usage

    To say you do not speak the local language. I no fit is the standard "cannot". Switching to English afterwards is perfectly normal

    Grammar Note

    Negation is no before the verb or auxiliary; fit is the word for 'can'. tok is the Pidgin spelling. (Composed from common words by regular grammar; not a fixed phrase.)

13. Good night.

    Good night

    Usage

    Said at bedtime or when parting at night; the English phrase is used as is

    Grammar Note

    The English greeting is used as is; in formal moments Pidgin speakers greet in English.

14. No wahala.

    You're welcome / no problem

    Usage

    A reply to thanks or an apology. wahala means trouble, so No wahala is "no problem"; no-shaking means the same

    Grammar Note

    wahala is a noun; No wahala is a fixed expression meaning 'no problem'.

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