With more than 200 million inhabitants, Nigerians enjoy using unusual terms or phrases when speaking to one another.
Nigerians never stop inventing new slang terms so they can communicate with each other in “coded” terms.
Below are a few of the slangs that made it into the country’s culture in 2023:
1. Dey Play
This slang is commonly used by Nigerian youths. It is a way of telling someone to stop deceiving him/herself and be more realistic.
2. Go to court
During the most recent general election in 2023, Nigerian politicians frequently utilized this lingo.
This is a means of instructing their rivals, should they be dissatisfied with an outcome declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, to pursue legal recourse.
This term is now used by Nigerians to tell someone to go to court if they are unhappy with the outcome of an argument.
3. Idan
Idan, a Yoruba word which literally translates to “magic”, became popular in 2023 that President Bola Tinubu once used it.
It describes someone extraordinary, unique, special, influential, and powerful.
4. No Evidence
Popular Nigerian Afro-beats singer, Burna Boy introduced the popular slang ‘No Evidence’.
The meaning of the slang is that people might not believe what you say or your hard work, no matter how you explain it.
This slang also goes along with the phrase, ‘You go explain tire’.
5. Let the poor breathe
Tinubu employed this language when speaking to Nigerians, which caused it to gain popularity.
Using this colloquialism, President Tinubu addressed Nigerian officials directly, pleading with them to take the needs of the impoverished people into account, particularly while devising new policies that could stifle them.
6. On Colos
Colorado is known by its abbreviation, Colos, which refers to a hard drug cocktail that includes cannabis among other narcotics.
When someone is acting strangely or possibly under the influence of drugs, the phrase “On Colos” is used.
For example, if someone says something absurd, such, “You can build a five-story building in a day,” another person would respond, “on colos.”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the World Health Organization have cautioned Nigerian youngsters against using heavy drugs, though.
