Nickolo, Kolonike and Kolo boy (Seyi)
My attempts to learn the Yoruba language have been sporadic. Though one thing I do take delight in is the insults trading I do with my two usual after-dinner companions at home.
Often after dinner at the house I will watch movies or play cards with Nike and Seyi, who are my boss’s niece and nephew. Due to our competitive spirits, slight boredom and a certain vagueness on the part of some participants in the group, it had become typical for us to be leveling tongue-in-cheek insults to each other. This proved an excellent way to add to my "useful Yoruba vocabulary list".
Now I know this is probably not the kind of thing I should be highlighting, but isn’t this always one of the first things you learn in a new language? Some fine examples include:
Ori efo (literally your head is broken, but meaning you are stupid)
Ara oko (literally meaning man of the farm/bushman)
Tokode (just arrived from the farm)
Tombolo (Thief, well it has a few meanings really!)
And a bunch of others I forget the exact names of:
mu mu, ode, , o po nu, didi rin, (all of which equivalent to various degrees of idiot/imbecile)
oloshi (I’ve been reprimanded by Nike for using that one so I think it must be something pretty bad).
oh and from the title - kolo means crazy!
Dare I ask, do any Yoruba speakers out there have some extra examples I can use for ammunition at our next card game?

12 Comments:
I know a good one. My mum still calls my sis "eleyin shamuga". It has to with her teeth doingsomething to her nose.
Hi Nick,
Thanks for the blog updates- awesome to hear some more stories about your time in Nigeria. Keep on having fun.
Renee
I've been following this blogg (which I came across by accident; dont even remember what I was searching for!). It's always interesting to hear a foreigner's view about Nigeria.
I know a good one for you, try 'supo', 'omugo'... I gues you'd have to get the tonation right for it to have an effect! LOL
Tobi (Leeds, UK)
Hi there
I came across your blogg by accident (dont remember what I was searching for!). It's always interesting to get foreigners' thoughts on Nigeria.
Try these 'supo' and 'omugo' ... they are still variations of stupid/imbecile. I guess you'd need to get the tonation right for it to have an effect LOL. Either way, they'll still get what you mean!
Have fun
Tobs (Leeds, UK)
hey mate,
I finally have a log in for blogs. Means I can finally respond and let you know I have been reading your postings, very interesting,
cheers
John
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Hey Nick..I have a good, popular one - Egbe. Used to describe "slackers" (another pidgin slang itself) or people who are not smart as in street smart. Slow guys who wont survive in smart social cirlces. Try "that bobo na egbe jare!"/"Egbe ni bobo yen joo!" - That dude is a friggin slacker!
Folabi
Boston.
bowoni.. this blog is quite interesting... i can imagine the experiences you must go thru day by day...
Nick, REALLY interesting the experiences you are going through :) How much longer are you there ? I head to te Gulf in January and that is kind of close ! Email me : jennifer.harwood@aiesec.net
So this oyinbo guy comes to Naija
And he sure is no stereotype
He's got the guts to be sincere
With Naija he identifies.
you can try 'egbe' literarily means dry, can be used to describe a person whose performance is not up to par.
Example:
That was a lousy hand you played, egbe boy.
Great blog...cool to see your perspective on Naija
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