At the market

Kí ni èyí?

literally “what is this?”

Gịnị bụ ihe a?

literally “what is thing this?”

Mene ne wannan?

literally “what is this?”

Ṣé ẹ ní …?

literally “do you (respectful) have …?”

Ị nwere …?

literally “you have …?”

Kana da …?

literally “you have (male) …?”

• to a womanKina da …?

Ó wọ́n jù

literally “it is expensive too much”

Saying this is expected. In most Nigerian markets the first price is an opening offer, not a fixed one, and haggling is normal courtesy rather than an insult.

Ọ dị oke ọnụ

literally “it is excessive price”

Ya yi tsada

literally “it has done expensive”

Ẹ dín ín kù

literally “reduce it down”

• informalDín ín kù

Biko belata ya

literally “please reduce it”

Ka rage

literally “you reduce (male)”

• to a womanKi rage

Màá fún ẹ ní …

literally “I will give you …”

Aga m enye gị …

literally “will I give you …”

Zan ba ka …

literally “I will give you (male) …”

• to a womanZan ba ki …

Ẹ fún mi ní méjì

literally “give me two”

Swap in any number — this is where the counting words earn their keep.

Nye m abụọ

literally “give me two”

Ba ni biyu

literally “give me two”

• more politeDon Allah ba ni biyu

Màá gbà á

literally “I will take it”

Aga m ewere ya

literally “will I take it”

Zan ɗauka

literally “I will take”

Mi ò fẹ́ ẹ

literally “I not want it”

Achọghị m ya

literally “want-not I it”

Ba na so

literally “not I want”

Ó dára

literally “it is good”

Ọ dị mma

literally “it is good”

Ya yi kyau

literally “it has done good”

Mò ń wò ó ni

literally “I am looking at it only”

Ana m ele anya

literally “am I casting eye”

Ina duba ne kawai

literally “I am looking only”