From Trabaye to Zazuu – Check out the popular Nigerian slangs and their meanings

Nigerians are typically described to be fun-loving people despite the woes betiding the most populous black nation in the world.

And very common habit akin to Nigerians is the use of slang terms. There is never a time in Nigeria when one or two slang terms do not trend, especially among the teeming youth population.

Most of these slangs have their roots in the ‘streets’ but make it to the soundscape through songs by top Nigerian musicians.

Below are some Nigerian slangs that are currently making the rounds on social media

Trabaye

Trabaye is a street slang that became popularised in Portable’s meteoric hit song, Zazu. According to Urban Dictionary, Trabaye simply means ‘to misbehave as a result of intoxication caused by taking hard drugs.

Trabaye can also be interchanged with ‘Gbemi Debe’ which means get me from a low end to a high end.

 

Zazuu

 

Portable on this one again!

The street singer became a sensation last Christmas when his Zazu track hit the airwaves. Olamide’s feature on the song gave it the perfect ingredients to stay afloat on music charts late last year and early 2022.

The term Zazuu is a Nigerian gland for when something is good or unexpected.

For example, when a person receives a credit alert of a huge amount of money, they can say “o tun ti zeh” to express their happiness for the gift of money they have received even before they say what happened, if at all they do.

Enipe

Enipe became a popular slang on social media alongside Pastor remote’s meme. The term itself dates back as far as 2010 in Nollywood movies.

The Yoruba slang word is translated as “you said what?” in the English Language. ‘Enipe’ is the name given to when a question is being evaded. It was made prominent by Yoruba Nollywood actress Kudirat Soremi popularly known as ‘Madam No Network’, who mostly acts partially deaf in movies.

 

Oxlade

The name Oxlade is the first social lingua for Nigerians in 2022. Following the leakage of Singer, Oxlade’s sex tape, Nigerians have likened Oxlade to sexual prowess.

 

Breakfast Na National Cake (BNNC)

 

Word on the street has it that this is not an organic trend. BNNC for shorts is a song recently released by budding Nigerian singer Tomii. The song reiterates that a breakup is not meant for a set of people but anyone can go through it.

An independent check by Burbles Media while it trended on Twitter shows that influencers might have been paid to make the slang go viral ahead of the release of the song. This makes it seem as though the track was recorded on popular demand.

A smart one that is.

Nigerian youth, especially those who aren’t in any romantic relationship now tease their friends who are in one by singing that line of the song to tell them that in their relationship they stand the risk of getting heartbroken.

E Choke

This slang simply means when something is massive and unexpected. It all started with Davido and it became a movement at some point.

Clipping your hand around your neck and acting like you are being smothered is the gesture communication for the slang.