Browse Niger Slang

Means 'yes' or 'alright.' This affirmative word is used across languages in Niger – like 'aiwa, je vois'

Short for barka da… greetings (like Barka da safe – good morning). On social media Nigerien youth say just Barka as 'Con...

Lit. 'It's how?' Used as a casual greeting like 'what's up?' among Nigerien youth (adopted from Ivorian slang)

Literally 'child of air,' an insult meaning a hooligan or bastard (troublemaker). Among youths it can be an insult or a ...

Slang for 'done' or 'exhausted.' Saying 'je suis dembé' means I'm wiped out. Possibly from Hausa 'gaji-dé'

Pronounced like 'jo,' a filler at sentence ends used in Niamey much like Nigerians use 'o.' It adds emphasis or a pleadi...

In Niamey, a fada refers to a hangout group of young men who meet regularly (often at night) to chat, drink tea, and pas...

Showing off by spending money lavishly (from faroter, Ivorian slang to show off). In Niger, farotage refers to guys maki...

Means 'hello/hi' in Zarma (the Songhai dialect in Niger). Used widely in Niamey even by non-Zarma as a friendly greeting

Means 'full' or packed/crowded (from Hausa ful for 'full'). Youth might say a party was foulla foulla to mean extremely ...

Means lion, but in slang a gado is a fearless person or big boss. A youth might brag 'je suis le gado du quartier' meani...

Pronounced ga-le, meaning 'crazy' or 'mad.' Youth use it humorously: 'il est gale' to mean 'he's nuts'

Means 'truth.' Youth use it to swear truthfulness or emphasize honesty: 'gaskia, c'est vrai' (honestly, it's true)

To wander around aimlessly (from French se guinder or local adoption). When teens skip class and roam, they say on guite...

An exclamation meaning 'come on!' or 'what the heck!' expressing disbelief, frustration or scolding. Common all over Nor...

'God willing.' In Niger, youth often add inshallah when talking about plans, sometimes jokingly because it's a habit. It...

Laughing sound ('issu issou'), popular on French social media. Nigerien online youth use issou as the equivalent of 'lol...

Meaning 'free extra' – the little bonus you ask for at the market. It's common for youth to playfully demand jara when b...

Traditional praise poetry or hype. Among youth, doing kirari means hyping someone up with praise names or in rap battles

Literally 'fashion passport,' jokingly referring to dressing very stylishly as your entry ticket to popularity. Often us...

Means someone who is naive or unsophisticated (from Hausa 'nursery'). City youth might call a village newbie a noozah li...

Literally 'we are together,' used just like the English phrase to express solidarity or friendship. Common in Niger to s...

Originally means peanut or a peanut snack. As slang, a small bribe or 'cola money.' If someone says donne-moi mon sagalo...

Literally 'bastard,' but youth use shege playfully to mean a mischievous person or as an expletive like 'damn!'

Means 'that's it' or 'it's done.' Used to finalize a matter or say 'end of story'

Means 'so it is said' or 'like…'. Youth use wai mid-sentence to report hearsay or as filler: 'Il dit wai il est fatigué'

Literally 'By God.' Used by Nigerien youth in any language to swear or emphasize sincerity. It's like saying 'honestly' ...

Means 'there is no problem' or 'no worries.' Youth often say it after plans: 'on va faire comme ça, ya matta'

Means flashy or show-off, often for someone dressing too extravagantly. Possibly onomatopoeic or from local dialect

A term for very spicy stew or hot gossip (figuratively 'peppery'). If someone brings hot news, friends say 'voici le zou...

Means 'very/too much.' Youth mix it into French: 'il est zé bête' (he's very stupid). From Hausa intensifier 'ze'