Nigerian youths have a way with words, deriving meaning, humour, banter and slangs from the most unlikely situations.
While a slang is an informal word or phrase used within a specific group or community, often with a meaning that’s different from the word’s literal definition, they have become widely accepted and incorporated.
Slangs are an in-thing used as a way of communicating within a particular culture or social context in a relatable way.
It gives some sort of sense of belonging to users, and while it is not usually used in formal settings, slangs are popular and is adopted by many.
Slangs are commonly used by young people and in everyday conversations. With the emergence and evolution of social media, slangs have come to emanate from music, movies, hypes, skits and mostly trending issues on social platforms. Take a look at 10 top trending slangs of the year used to communicate on and off social media platforms.
Odogwu Paranra: This is an Igbo word that means “very strong man” or “a man of great strength and charisma”. “Odogwu” translates to a strong, influential, and often wealthy man while “Paranra” is a descriptive word that emphasizes the intensity or level of that strength or influence, similar to “very” or “extremely” in English.
Odogwu Paranra was culled from a viral Nollywood movie titled “Love In Every Word”, from a character played by Uzor Arukwe.
Steeze (and composure): This word has come to be adopted as a slang in Nigeria. Some people might not be aware, but “steeze” is an English word in the dictionary which speaks of a person’s distinctive and impressive way of doing things or style of dressing.
The word became popularized by the 2024 Ojude Oba festival where many were blown away by Farooq Oreagba’s outlook. And just like the actual meaning of Steeze, it is used to describe someone who has a good sense of style and carriage to match.
Na Collabo: This is a phrase in Nigerian Pidgin, that means “it is a collaboration”. It’s used to indicate that something, often a piece of music, business venture or situation involves partnering up.
Gadus: This slang is used to jokingly dismiss or express disbelief over something as ridiculous or absurd. Many use the word in response to something unexpected or funny.
Originally, Gadus is the nickname of a young Nigerian Abdulgafar Saad who reportedly lost his ill-gotten wealth and out of embarrassment avoided his friends. His friends suddenly stumbled upon him by the roadside, and out of disbelief asked “No be Gadus be dis?”, which became a viral sensation.
Opueh: This means “big” or “big things” in the Ijaw language, derived from a song by the Ijaw artist, Barrister Smooth. It can also mean sex in some contexts.
Opps: The slang, “opps” is short for “opposition”, used to refer to enemies or rivals, in the context of gang warfare or street culture. It’s a common term used in rap, hip-hop, and other forms of music, where it’s used to denote the opposing side or those who are against someone. It became viral when superstar singer, Wizkid tweeted “death of the opps”.
Ogbon Sodiq: Sodiq is a Yoruba Muslim name. It has been adopted as a slang used to hype someone for being extremely wise. It was coined from singer Asake’s hit song, Organise.
Shenk: This simply means to ignore, sideline, or disappoint someone. “Shenk” is often used to describe the act of someone being overlooked or treated poorly.
Demure: The word is a recent TikTok trend that gained popularity by Jools Lebron and signifies being mindful, cutesy, and not doing too much. However, Nigerian youths use the slang to refer to a situation where someone is acting in a way that appears modest or reserved, even if the reality is different.
On Colos: This slang means hard drugs but it’s also used to ask if someone is using their right senses.
Bonus Slangs:
Sapa: This slang describes a state of financial incapacity or extreme poverty.
Omo: It’s more like an expression and slang that can express shock, stress, or be a precursor to a conversation with a friend.
Breakfast: The slang is the new word for when someone gets dumped in a relationship. It was popularised by Burna Boy’s song ‘Last Last’ and can be used as Serve Breakfast or Chop Breakfast.
