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Babawilly's Dictionary of
Pidgin English Words and Phrases.
M
Machine: Motor cycle. See Okada
Mach: Trample upon. Also Mash.
Madam Kofo: 1. Character in Nigerian soap opera Second Chance famed for wearing large head scarves. 2. Lady with large head-scarf.
Made in England: Eat food and lick plate clean till Logo at the bottom of plate is visible.
Made in China: See Made in England.
Magani: Native aphrodisiac.
Maggi: Maggi cubes. Brand of seasoning cubes for cooking containing herbs and spices.
Mago-mago: Ilegal deal.
Magun: Spell put on woman said to kill her partner if involved in adulterous relationship.
Mai: My. e.g Commot mai front
Make: 1. Made e.g. Wetin make am sick. 2. Should I? E.g. Wetin make I do? 3. Let me e.g. Make I warn you o! 4. Parade one's self e.g. E juss dey make up and down.
Make eye: Wink.
Make mouth: Boast.
Make yeye: 1. Make fun 2. Crack jokes 3. Misbehave.
Mek: Make.
Make I hear word: Shut up.
Make I see road: Get out of my face.
Malu: Cow. Also Lama.
Mama dash: Hand me down clothes from a lady.
Mama-put:Road side food seller so called because customers frequently beg for extra helpings by saying 'Mama abeg
put more now'.
Mammar:Hit.
Mammy wagon: Wooden construction on the chassis of a lorry for carry passengers.
Mammy water: Mermaid.
Man: 1 Myself.
Man picken: 1. Me.
Man no die, man no rotten: 1. I am barely surviving.
Manage: Make do with second best.
Many leg: Complications e.g. Dat business don get Many leg.
Markit: 1. Merchandise
Mash: Trample upon. See Mach
Mate: 1. Age group. 2. Same social class. e.g. which day we become mate?
Matric: Matriculation into university.
Matric gown: Matriculation gown.
Mayguard: Night watch man.
Meanwilli: Mean while.
Mede-mede: 1. Salads 2. Foreign cuisine.
Medicine: 1. Juju 2. Tablets. Also called Melesin and medi.
Megida: Big man. Also Oga.
Mentalo: See Aromental.
Me shio nu: Shut up; Igbo word.
Mescaform: Mess up e.g Ol’boy, why you kon dey mescaform now?
Mesej: Message.
Mess: Fart. See Pollute.
Micro stuff: Small print information.
Miliki: Enjoyment.
Minerals: Soft drinks
Mind tell me: Intuition.
Mister man: Hey you!
Mm-mm:
Mobile: Abbreviation for Mobile Police force which is a rapid response anti-riot arm of the police. Also called Kill and go (derogatory).
Mobile tailor: Tailor who slings sewing machine on shoulder and roams the streets in search of clients. Also Obioma.
Moda: Mother.
Moin moin: Steamed cake of ground black eyed beans containing pepper, bits of fish or corned beef. Also spelt Moyin moyin.
Monkey coat: Fanciful waistcoat.
Money for hand: No credit.
Money make iron float: 1. The iron float refers to large ships and the phrase means it cost money to do anything outstanding. 2. Money can do a lot.
Money miss road: Nouveau riche throwing money around.
Money yab man: Condition where desires can't be accomplished due to financial constraints.
Moni: Money.
Monkey dey work babon dey chop: The workers don’t partake of the harvest despite their hard work.
Molue: Rickety bright yellow bus used for transportation in Lagos.
Moro-moro: Clean-shaven head. Also Gorimapka.
Morning food: Breakfast.
Morocco: Indian hemp. See Igbo.
Mono mono: Lightening.
More-more: In addition.
Moto: Car.
Mouth organ: Cob of roasted or boiled corn.
Move: Brisk trade.
Move stuff: Show off one's academic prowess. Also Vibrate
Mugun: Fool.
Mumu: See Mugun.
Murd: 1. Die e.g. Di Baba don murd o! 2. Murder e.g. Wo, if you touch mi I go murd you o!
Muritala: Slang for twenty Naira note which bears the photograph of the late Nigerian Head of state; General Muritala Mohammed. Also called Muri.
My own don betta: My good fortune has arrived.
© 2001, Babawilly
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