Glossary of pidgin terms
Madam Reana, you dey hear me?’
Madam Reana, are you listening to me?
‘Eh-hen. I say I dey go my village. My sister, she no well.
Eh-hen – similar to ‘all right’.
I have to travel to my village to visit my sister who is unwell.
I don tell Oga Misabu, and I don put food for one month for freezer.
Oga (or-gah) – literally means ‘boss’. It is used mainly as a title of respect.
I have told Mr Misbah, and I have left food in the freezer to last a month.
Your wife no happy.
Your wife is not happy.
You suppose go sabi how to perform, make your wife no leave you.
You should go and learn how to perform (in bed), so that your wife won’t leave you.
Madam Reana, where you dey go?
Madam Reana, where are you going?
How now, aunty Reana? Longest time.’
How is it going, aunty Reana? It has been a while.
‘Aunty’ is usually used as a semi-formal/informal title to show respect to a person who is either a contemporary and somewhat familiar, or one who is older and very familiar.
This your house fine o, aunty.
‘O’ is a sound/word usually added to informal speech to emphasize the point being made.
This house of yours is fine, aunty.
We don reach, aunty.
We have gotten to our destination, aunty.
Oga Misabu no dey chop food since madam Reana comot.
‘Comot’(come-hot) – leave.
Oga Misbah has not been eating food since when Madam Reana left.
E don pass two weeks now.
It has been over two weeks.
Na soso medicine him dey chop, you see am?
He has only been consuming medicine. Do you see?
You no sleep for house yesterday night?
You did not sleep in the house last night? (In the book’s context, this is a rhetorical question).
Madam Reana … you and her, una still dey married o.
You and Madam Reana are still married, remember?
Make she quick come back o. I go bring food for you, now, Oga Misabu.’
She should come back quick. I will go and bring food for you, now, Mr Misbah.
ehn?
This is similar to ‘eh?’ or ‘huh?’
Oya (Oh-yah).
It means ‘come on, then.’
Mumu (moo-moo)
Moron/idiot.
OTHER TERMS
Whot – A type of card game.
Jilbab – An outfit usually used as an outer covering or prayer garment by women.