VVerde Wave Travel

🗣️ Phrases in Nigeria’s languages

English is the official language, but the real street lingua franca is Nigerian Pidgin. By region, three big languages dominate: Hausa (north), Yoruba (southwest, including Lagos) and Igbo (southeast). Here are essential phrases in the main ones to help your trip.

⚠️ Phrases under review by native speakers — use them as a starting point and confirm pronunciation locally. Spelling can vary by region.

Pidgin nigeriano

The lingua franca understood across the country — from Lagos to Abuja.

  • How far?

    Hi / what’s up?

  • How you dey?

    How are you?

  • I dey fine

    I’m fine

  • Thank you / I appreciate

    Thank you

  • Abeg

    Please

  • How much e be?

    How much?

  • I no understand

    I don’t understand

Hausa

The most spoken by number of people; lingua franca of the north.

  • Sannu

    Hello

  • Yaya kake / kike?

    How are you? (to him / to her)

  • Na gode

    Thank you

  • Ee / A’a

    Yes / No

  • Nawa ne?

    How much?

  • Sai an jima

    See you later

Iorubá (Yoruba)

Dominant in the southwest, including Lagos.

  • Ẹ káàárọ̀

    Good morning

  • Báwo ni?

    How are you?

  • Ẹ ṣé

    Thank you

  • Bẹ́ẹ̀ni / Bẹ́ẹ̀kọ́

    Yes / No

  • Eló ni?

    How much?

  • Ó dàbọ̀

    Goodbye

Igbo

Dominant in the southeast (Enugu, Onitsha, Aba).

  • Ụtụtụ ọma

    Good morning

  • Kedu?

    How are you?

  • Daalụ

    Thank you

  • Ee / Mba

    Yes / No

  • Ego ole?

    How much?

  • Ka ọ dị

    See you later

💡 And to arrive already connected and practise on the way, the Nigeria eSIM has you covered.