The Ultimate Pidgin Dictionary

Pidgins / Creoles / Patois / Slangs / Argots

Shiva

Assurance that something will be fine.
Don’t be scared, afraid, or worried.

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October 14, 2022 No Comments

Oya

Right away. Given the predominant usage in Nigeria, it is likely of Yoruba origin meaning “right away”. Usage in parts of Accra have use it in the sentiment of the local Ga language where “O ya” would mean, you go.

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October 26, 2022 No Comments

Dash

To gift.

The word may originally have meant a ‘tribute’ and that this meaning was later extended to cover ‘present’. The etymology of the word based may be based in obsolete words in Romance languages for tribute. French dace, dache, Italian dazio, Spanish dacio, and medieval Latin datio.

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October 14, 2022 No Comments