SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Popular Nigerian Slang You Can Use To Detect A Scammer
Popular Nigerian Slang and Their Meaning
Nigerian Slang
Nigerians use different kinds of slang during conversations, and this usually comes up whenever they are excitable.
You can use their slang in two ways: first, if you see strange terms you can check to see if an American soldier is using Nigerian slang, or second, the test them during conversations.
If you see strange terms in chats you have with a “soldier”, “businessman”, or beautiful “young woman” then you obviously have not been listening to us to avoid strangers online. But, you can look them up here to see if they might be Nigerian slang terms dropped by accident.
You can also drop slang terms in your chat to see how the other person responds. If they understand you and respond in kind, then “bingo” they are a scammer.
Popular Nigerian Slang and their Meanings
- 419 – Another slang for fraud
- Abi – Right (as in “exactly, right?”)
- After One – Girl with one child prior to marriage
- Agidi – Stubborn
- Ajebutter – rich spoilt kid
- Akata – White man
- Aproko – a gossip
- Am – Him/Her/It
- Amebo – backbiter/rumour-monger also called Gbeborun
- Aristo (shortened from Aristocrat) – Married men that like young girls
- Aro – funny person. (peculiar to OAU)
- Awoof – Free things
- Baffs – designer wears
- Bakassi – Booty
- Bang – Depending on context, fail or sleep with the opposite sex
- Blaze – Smoke Weed
- Blend – Join a confraternity
- Bounce – to walk in a stylish way in order to get noticed
- (To) Browse on the street – to look for girls/boys e.g Omo I wan go browse
- Brush – Beat
- Bust my skeroo – to blow one’s mind
- Butty (also: ajebota) – Spoiled brat / Pampered Child
- Cable – Leak a secret
- Cane – Sleep with a girl
- Cassava Flakes: Dry Garri chips, compared with Corn Flakes
- Chips – Small papers with answers to exam questions an individual takes into the examination halls to cheat or commit exam malpractice. The smaller the better (microchips) – Also believed to be a scammer’s cheatsheets
- Chop – eat
- Church Members – Fellow Cultist e.g Fryo na (is) my church member – fellow scammer gang members
- Comot – Leave
- Confra – Confraternity
- Cow Bell – Large Breasts
- Crash – to sleep
- Dagbo – copying someone’s work
- Denge – to poise
- Dem – Them/They
- Demor – a show-off, act up, pretend to be something one is not
- Domot – Entrance/Vicinity
- Double silver – used by cultist to denote a gun
- Dub – copying someone’s work
- E/Im – He/She/It
- Effizy – proud feeling, boisterous or pompous
- Eke don carry am – police have arrested him
- Fabu – Lie
- Fall hand – Disappoint
- Fashi – Forget
- Fashi am – forget about it
- FFF – Friend for food
- FFO – For food only
- Form – arrogant, to put proud air just to impress (eg. You too dey form)
- Frap – Sex
- Gbana – Marijuana (could be a Lagos only slang)
- Gbe ja – run away
- Gbege – Trouble
- Giddy – Smooch
- Guck – sleep, believe a lie
- Hammer – Strike rich
- Ikebe – Booty
- ITK – All those “overserious” students. ITK stands for I Too Know
- Iyanga – proud feeling, boisterous or pompous
- (To) Jack – to study hard, a popular Nigerian students’ slang
- Jack Robinson – Rubbish
- Jand – UK
- Jones – lack intellect, not being smart in a certain situation
- Joneser – Failure
- Juve (shortened from juvenile) – Young ladies
- Kak – Sit
- Kaka – Butt/Shite
- Kawa – (I am going) – Leave
- Kele – Young woman
- Kpai – Die/Kill
- Kposh or fa gbo or blaze – Smoke Weed
- Kolo – Mad/Crazy
- Like play like play – jokingly
- Maga – Fool
- Maye – Fool
- Mescaphon – misbehave or mess up
- Mud – Die/Kill
- Mugu – Fool
- Nack – Hit
- No dulling – Don’t prolong things
- O’boy – friend
- Okada – Motorcycle
- Pam – Chill out/Patient
- Peche – Chillout
- Pepper don red – Person who’s luck has changed and the person is richer.
- Prak – Sex
- Rake – to rant (out of anger)
- Runs – try to do things the bad way
- Sabi – to know
- Shak up or Shayo – get drunk or a drunk
- Shakara – proud feeling, boisterous or pompous
- (The) Shenkiz dem just dey matrix – the girls are stripping
- Shey? – Is that right?
- Shugaba – To be expelled
- Smallie – Girlfriend or Girl
- Soji – Street Smart
- Sort – bribe
- Straff – Sex
- Tey (tey tey) – Long time (ago)
- To baff up – nicely dressed
- Troway – Waste/Throw away
- Tush – A refined person
- Wahalla – trouble
- Waka – travel/go/walk away
- Wetin? – What?
- Wetin Dey? What’s Up?
- Wetin dey shele? What’s the latest gist?
- Woza – slap
- Wozam slap – give him a slap
- Wuz up?
- Yahoo – Fraudster
- You Fall my hand – you disappointed me
- Yan – talks, noisy discussions, or gist
- Yankee – US
TAGS: SCARS, Information About Scams, Anti-Scam, Scams, Scammers, Fraudsters, Cybercrime, Crybercriminals, Romance Scams, Scam Victims, Online Fraud, Online Crime Is Real Crime, Scam Avoidance, Nigerian Slang, Nigerian Scammers, Nigerian Fraudsters, Nigeria
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A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
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