Shopping

1. How much e cost?

   How much does it cost?

   Usage

   The core shopping question. Market prices start high, so ask then haggle. Also: How much dem dey charge ...?

   Grammar Note

   Word order stays as in a statement. cost works as a verb and as the adjective 'expensive'. (composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; the whole sentence itself is not attested)

2. Abeg, reduce di price.

   Please reduce the price

   Usage

   The standard haggling line; bargaining is expected in markets. price can also be a verb meaning "to bargain"

   Grammar Note

   An imperative with abeg for politeness. reduce is also used in news Pidgin. (composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; the whole sentence itself is not attested)

3. I wan buy dis one.

   I want to buy this

   Usage

   Said while pointing at the item; dis one means "this one"

   Grammar Note

   one stands for 'the thing', so dis one / dat one point at items. (composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; the whole sentence itself is not attested)

4. E cost too much.

   It is too expensive

   Usage

   An opening before asking for a lower price. too much means "excessively"

   Grammar Note

   cost is the adjective 'expensive'; too much after it intensifies.

5. Abeg, give me anoda bag.

   Please give me another bag

   Usage

   For asking for an extra carrier bag; anoda is the Pidgin spelling of another

   Grammar Note

   give me ... is 'please give me ...'; anoda is the Pidgin spelling of another. (composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; the whole sentence itself is not attested)

6. Di market dey for here.

   The market is here

   Usage

   Gives a location: dey says where it is, for here means "here"

   Grammar Note

   The locative preposition is for; dey expresses location. (composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; the whole sentence itself is not attested)

7. I dey like Ankara cloth.

   I usually like Ankara fabric

   Usage

   Ankara is the bright West African wax-print cloth, a topic when shopping for clothes or crafts

   Grammar Note

   dey + verb marks habitual or ongoing action (I dey like = I usually like). (composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; the whole sentence itself is not attested)

8. Abeg, I wan change am or return am.

   Please exchange/return it

   Usage

   When you want to swap or return a purchase. Many market sellers do not accept returns, so keep the receipt

   Grammar Note

   am is the object 'it' and follows the verb (change am). (composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; the whole sentence itself is not attested)

9. Abeg, give me receipt.

   Please give me a receipt

   Usage

   For asking for a receipt after paying

   Grammar Note

   An English-derived noun used unchanged; there is no plural ending. (composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; the whole sentence itself is not attested)

10. Di quality good well-well.

    This is really good / excellent quality

    Usage

    To praise an item's quality; also handy in haggling

    Grammar Note

    The adjective good is the predicate; well-well is reduplication for emphasis. (composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; the whole sentence itself is not attested)

11. I no need receipt.

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    To decline a receipt

    Grammar Note

    Negation is no before the verb (I no need); don't is not used. (composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar; the whole sentence itself is not attested)

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