Igbo Slang
Real Igbo youth and market slang — much of it documented in an academic study of Onitsha market speech — decoded with real meanings, origins, and honest sensitivity notes where a word's history calls for it.
48 words
You're wealthy — literally 'your moon is shining.'
A pompous, show-off person.
Bulletproof, untouchable, invincible.
To toast/chat up a woman — trying to win her interest.
She's/it's beautiful — literally 'it is ripe.'
Relax, chill out — literally 'keep the body.'
A spendthrift — literally 'a planter.'
You're in the loop, you belong — literally 'you are in soup.'
A real traditional female name, sometimes used unkindly as slang for an unsophisticated 'local' girl.
A big man — someone powerful, wealthy, or highly respected.
An armed robber — literally 'a market person.'
Literally 'white/fair woman' — a descriptive nickname for a light-skinned or white woman.
Trouble, a problem — literally 'oil bean.'
To be prideful, headstrong, or full of yourself.
A rickety, poorly-maintained old vehicle.
A true, ride-or-die friend — literally 'a corpse's sibling.'
A ride-or-die best friend, fiercely loyal to you.
Things are out of control — literally 'things are more than firewood.'
Exactly! Spot on! — an exclamation of total agreement.
Sibling, or a close friend treated like family.
The biggest, the greatest, the most impressive — praise for someone larger than life.
The police — literally 'python.'
Highly expensive, premium-priced.
To pretend you've forgotten something.
Poverty, hardship, being broke — literally 'pot's thread.'
Money, cash.
Nonsense! Rubbish! — a dismissive exclamation.
A fool, a silly or unserious person — literally 'goat.'
The real, original, genuine article.
Weed, marijuana — literally 'grass.'
An affectionate term of address — 'dear,' used for women/girls regardless of actual family ties.
A corpse being transported home for burial — literally 'dried fish.'
Money, cash.
Wickedness, or a wicked person — literally 'a dried heart.'
To spend money extravagantly and carelessly.
To make a big profit — literally 'lick the wooden plate.'
Literally 'goat head' — a prized Igbo delicacy, and slang for anything top-tier or seriously impressive.
Trouble-making, stirring up drama.
To become exceedingly rich or wealthy.
To convince or talk someone round — literally 'wash the head.'