Understand Nigerian Language and Enjoy Nigeria!

Nigerian Language is as fascinating and diverse as her culture and people. There are over 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria (matter of fact some studies puts the number of ethnic groups in Nigeria at 384) and each ethnic group has their own language and some even has more than two languages.

So in all there are over 500 languages spoken in Nigeria! And within each language there could be several different dialects and ascents.Click here to see a complete list of Nigerian Languages.

You don’t have to understand or speak all these languages in other to be able to communicate with Nigerians, because English is the official and a widely spoken language in Nigeria.

Nigerian Ambassador to the US

Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, George Achulike Obiozor, and the Lieutenant Governor of Utah Gary Herbert. Official business is conducted in English. Photo from www.utah.gov
Also a Nigerian variation of English known as pidgin or broken English is widely spoken throughout the country;however the people from the Edo and Delta State area have more command of this language than the rest of the country.

By default, most Nigerians, especially urban dwellers speak two languages – their ethnic language and English. In some urban areas, kids will grow up speaking three languages by default. They learn their ethnic language at home, English language at school and Pidgin English in the street. So for those people the number of language they speak would be 3.

It is not uncommon however, to see people who speak more that 3 or 4 languages. For example I speak 5 languages myself which are Igbo, Hausa, English, Pidgin English and Italian – having lived in Italy for 5 years.

The dominant ethnic groups (or tribes) in Nigeria are Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. This does not in any way indicate superiority in class or culture; it just means that these three tribes have the highest population. To this end the major ethnic languages spoken in Nigeria are Hausa, Igbo (or Ibo) and Yoruba language.

Other major languages spoken in Nigeria include: Bini, Edo, Efik, Egba, Fulfulde, Gwari, Ibibio, Idoma, Ijaw, Ijebu, Ishekiri, Kanuri, Tiv, and many more.

Learning Nigerian Language

Taking the time and the effort to learn the basics of the Language and culture of the country you are visiting will make your travel more enjoyable; this is particularly true for Nigeria and other developing countries.

Since you will only have a small window of opportunity to ignite the spirit of friendship among the Nigerians you will be interacting with from your flight and throughout your stay in Nigeria, learning to say a simple word like hello in any one of the major languages will go a long way in removing what I can call a “cloud of in-equality” between you and the people you will encounter.

To help you understand this, you should remember that in Nigeria there is a wide and pronounced gulf between the “Haves” and the “Have-nots”; and the majority of the country which happens to be the “have not’s” views the people on the other side of the isle with some contempt and envy.

By default you as a visitor, tourist or an Oyibo (as white people are called in Nigeria) falls within the group of the “Haves”. However a little gesture of interest in learning Nigerian language and culture will win the hearts and mind of the people you will encounter and they will go above and beyond in being nice to you.

Road sign to Abuja

Roads Signs are in English. Photo by Bnoack

Other benefits of learning Nigerian language include

The Nigerian Language of Hausa is spoken by more than 50 million people in Nigeria and the African countries of Benin,Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Ghana, Niger, and Sudan
The Yoruba and the Igbo languages are spoken by more than 20 million people each, and the Yoruba language is spoken in the West African countries of Togo and Benin.
Millions of Nigeria lives outside the motherland so it would not be difficult to find someone to practice what you‘ve learnt.
It will help you to appreciate the culture and diversity of Nigeria.
It can make your vacation more fun and interesting.

Few Things to note as you learn Nigerian Language

Nigerians tends to speak incomplete sentences.
Nigerians tends to be direct in their communications
Our courtesies are not necessarily expressed through language; we show our “please” and “thank you” in more ways than with words.
Most English words do not have a common ethnic word in Nigeria, so English is commonly weaved into words and sentences.

Sign Boards are in English

Common Words and Phrases in English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba

English Pidgin English Hausa Igbo Yoruba

Money Money Kudi Ego Owo

Come Come Zoo Bia Waa

Good Morning Good Morning Ina Kwana Ututu Oma E Karo

How are you? How you dey? Yaya ka ke? Kedu ka idi? Se dandaa ni o?

What is your name? Wetin be your name? Menene sunan ka? Gini bu afa gi?

My name is … My name na … Suna na … Afam bu … Ki ni oruko ee?

Goodbye Bye Bye Sai Anjuma Ka Omesia O Dabo

Thank you Thank you Na Gode Dalu E se

Thank you Thank you Na Gode Dalu E se

How Much? How much? Nawa ni? Ego one? Elo ni?

Where are you from? Where you dey come from? Dega ina ka ke? Ebee ka isi? Nibo lo ti wa?

I am from Lagos I dey come from Lagos Dega Lagos na ke Lagos ka m si abia Mo wa lati Lagos

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