Question Words

1. Wetin?

   What?

   Usage

   Works on its own; point at the thing as you say it. wetin means both "what" and "the thing that"

   Grammar Note

   wetin is the Pidgin question word for what (from what thing); word order stays as in statements

2. Wia?

   Where?

   Usage

   Asks for a place; put a name before it to form a sentence. wia is the Pidgin spelling of where

   Grammar Note

   wia is the respelling of where. "Where is X?" takes the form wia X dey?

3. Wen?

   When?

   Usage

   For departure times and opening hours. wen is the respelling of when and also works as a conjunction

   Grammar Note

   wen is both the question word and the conjunction "when". Tense is shown by dey, don and go, not by verb endings

4. Who?

   Usage

   To ask who is in charge or whose something is. who is written with the English spelling

   Grammar Note

   Word order stays as in statements. In relative clauses Pidgin uses wey instead of who; this is the question word

5. Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason; it can sound blunt, so smile. A more Pidgin way is Wetin make ...?

   Grammar Note

   why is written as in English. Reasons can also be asked with Wetin make ...? or Na why ...?

6. How?

   Usage

   For how to get somewhere or use something. Also seen in fixed forms like How e dey go?

   Grammar Note

   how is written as in English; in How far? it is a fixed greeting, not a distance question

7. How many?

   Usage

   Asks a count; hold up fingers to confirm the number

   Grammar Note

   How many works as in English. The noun after it need not be pluralised (How many pikin?)

8. How much be dis one?

   How much is this one?

   Usage

   The core shopping question; ask them to show the figure on a calculator. Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

   Grammar Note

   After a question word the copula is be, not na (Wetin be ...?). dis one points at a nearby thing. Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

9. Which one?

   Usage

   When you need someone to pick from several options. Which one? is a common everyday form

   Grammar Note

   which is written as in English with one after it. Some write it wich; this app keeps the English spelling

10. Wetin be dis?

    What is this?

    Usage

    Point at an unfamiliar item in a market or eatery. Same pattern as Wetin be your name?

    Grammar Note

    "What is ...?" is Wetin be ...?; after a question word the copula is be, not na

11. Abeg, wia toilet dey?

    Please, where is the toilet?

    Usage

    One of the most-used travel questions; memorise it whole. Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

    Grammar Note

    "Where is X?" is wia + noun + dey; dey is the locative copula and ends the sentence. Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

12. Wetin be di time?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Ask the time; having them show a clock face avoids number confusion. Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

    Grammar Note

    di is the respelling of the; written Pidgin uses di, rarely the. Clock numbers are English. Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

13. You get am?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    Asks about stock or vacancy; put it after the name of the thing (Rice, you get am?). Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

    Grammar Note

    "Have" is get; am is the object pronoun "it" right after the verb. Questions keep statement word order, using a question word or rising intonation; there is no Do-inversion

14. You fit do am?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    Checks whether a request is possible and can open a price negotiation. You fit is a very common expression

    Grammar Note

    fit replaces can before the verb and the object am follows it. Questions keep statement word order, using a question word or rising intonation; there is no Do-inversion

15. I go pay for am?

    Will I have to pay for it?

    Usage

    Check before using luggage storage, Wi-Fi or entry whether you must pay. Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

    Grammar Note

    go marks the future (no will); "pay for" takes the thing paid for. Questions keep statement word order, using a question word or rising intonation; there is no Do-inversion

16. Na free?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Confirm that a sample, a bottle of water or a service costs nothing. "Na free" is attested in the sense "it was given free"

    Grammar Note

    Raising the intonation of the statement Na free. makes the question. Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

17. E dey okay?

    Is this okay?

    Usage

    Used to ask for permission or confirmation; pair it with pointing. The pattern matches forms like Yu dey okay?

    Grammar Note

    A rising tone on the statement makes the question; dey is the state copula

18. Dem no allow am?

    Is it not allowed?

    Usage

    To double-check after being refused. dem + verb is the impersonal passive. Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

    Grammar Note

    dem + verb expresses the passive; as in "dem no allow am". Negation is no before the verb

19. You dey okay?

    Are you okay?

    Usage

    To check on someone's wellbeing. Also: Haw far? Yu dey okay?

    Grammar Note

    The question keeps statement order with rising tone; dey is the state copula

20. Na true?

    Is that true?

    Usage

    Used to confirm something surprising. Na true is a very common expression

    Grammar Note

    Na true. means "it's true"; a rising tone turns it into a question. na is the identity copula

21. Wia you from?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    A good conversation opener. The copula is dropped; the pattern "you from ..." is common. Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

    Grammar Note

    Origin is expressed without a copula: "you from + place". Questions keep statement word order, using a question word or rising intonation; there is no Do-inversion

22. Wetin be your name?

    What is your name?

    Usage

    A standard opener when you meet. your keeps the English spelling

    Grammar Note

    After a question word the copula is be. Some write yor; this app uses your

23. How many years you get?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asking someone's age can feel intrusive; best once you know the person. Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

    Grammar Note

    Age is expressed with get (I get twenty years), not a calque of how old. Composed from dictionary-verified words and grammar; the exact sentence is not directly attested.

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