How Nigerians say hello: 520 languages, 3 main greetings, 1 universal slang

The answer depends on where you are and who you're greeting. Nigeria's 520+ indigenous languages mean there's no single 'hello,' but three main languages dominate: Hausa's 'Sannu' in the north, Yoruba's time-based 'E ka aro' (morning), 'E ka san' (afternoon), and 'E ku irole' (evening) in the southwest, and Igbo's 'Kedu?' in the southeast.

But the real universal is Nigerian Pidgin: 'How far?' and 'Wetin dey?' work everywhere from Sokoto to Calabar, spoken by over 60 million Nigerians. That's your safest bet if you're visiting multiple regions.

Traditional greetings involve physical respect. Younger men prostrate before elders in Yoruba culture; younger women kneel. Handshakes often involve the left hand touching the right elbow when greeting superiors. These gestures carry as much weight as the words themselves.

Modern urban life has shortened exchanges. Lagos professionals switch between formal indigenous greetings for elders and casual 'How far?' with peers. Slang evolves fast—'oya na,' originally Yoruba for 'hurry up,' now means anything from 'let's go' to 'goodbye' across all ethnic groups.

For visitors: Start with basic 'Sannu,' 'E ka aro,' 'Kedu?' plus Pidgin 'How far?' Observe respect levels—Nigerians value effort over perfection. Walking past someone you know without greeting is considered extremely rude, even in cities.

Will you embrace the full two-minute traditional greeting that asks after family and work, or stick to quick Pidgin that gets you by? Either way, acknowledging people properly signals you understand Nigerian culture's emphasis on community over individualism.

SOURCE: https://guardian.ng/nigerian/how-do-nigerians-say-hello/