Installmentally: This “word” is a favourite of many Nigerians, but, sadly, it simply does not exist. You won’t find it any reputable dictionary. The correct thing to say when “installmentally” comes to your mind is in instalments or by instalments.
Plumpy: Nigerians use “plumpy” when they want to say that someone is chubby or slightly fat. The correct expression is plump.
Disvirgin: This particular “word” is used severally on a daily basis, especially by Nigerian men when they intend saying that a woman has lost her virginity to a guy. The correct word to use, however, is deflower, because “disvirgin” is not a word.
Crosscarpeting or cross-carpeting: This is a favourite of Nigerian politicians and political analysts alike. They use it when they want to say that a politician has dumped his political party for another party, usually a rival party. The right terms to use when describing this scenario are party switching, defection and crossing the floor and not “cross-carpeting” or “crosscarpeting.”
Go-slow: The word go-slow exists, but not in the way Nigerians use it. A “go-slow,” in the peculiarly Nigerian context, is a situation in which road traffic is very sluggish due to vehicle queues. However, go-slow in the English language actually means an industrial tactic used by employees whereby they intentionally reduce activity, productivity and efficiency in order to press home some demands. When this happens, you say that work in the office, factory or organization is at a go- slow. The correct terms to use when road traffic is very sluggish due to vehicle queues are traffic jam, traffic congestion, gridlock, and (less technically) hold-up, not “go- slow.”
Cunny: “Cunny” is not found in authoritative dictionaries, but it can be found in some slang dictionaries. Over there, it is a slang used to refer to a woman’s v**ina. The correct term to use is cunning (which is used to describe someone that is being deceitful or crafty) and not “cunny.”
Opportuned: There is nothing like “opportuned” anywhere in the English language, but that has not stopped its blatant use by all and sundry in Nigeria, including journalists and writers. The correct word is opportune. The word opportune is an adjective; therefore it has no past tense. An adjective has no past tense. However, some verbs can function as adjectives or adverbs in a sentence. These verbs are called participles and they do have past tenses. They are not pure adjectives. Examples of participles are fattened, amused, disgusted, mystified, overwhelmed, upset and bored. Be that as it may, opportune is a pure adjective and not a participle, therefore it has no past tense. Opportune means appropriate or well- timed.
Alright: “Alright” is a misspelling of the term all right. All right is used when you want to say that something is adequate, acceptable, agreeable or suitable. To hardcore English language linguists, “alright” is not a word. However, its usage is gaining traction and it’s increasingly becoming acceptable. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary – which is considered the gold standard among American English speakers – has recently drawn a lot of criticisms for its permissiveness when it began indexing some otherwise colloquial and street language terms, including “alright.” Most linguists disagree with the gradual acceptance of “alright” as a word by the public and even the media, while those in the minority are “alright” with it.
Wake-keeping: “Wake-keeping” exists only in the imagination of a few English speakers. As a matter of fact, there is no such thing as “wake-keeping.” The correct word is wake and not even “wake-keep.” Both “wake-keeping” and “wake-keep” are ungrammatical.
Screentouch: This bad grammatical expression gained currency in Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries with the influx of made-in-China stylus pen touchscreen not- so-smart phones in the mid 2000s. It was a novelty then; many in Nigeria had not seen it – or even thought such advanced technology was possible – before. So, they looked for a name to call it and “screentouch” came to mind, after all you just touch the screen and it starts working. In case you’ve still not figured it out yet, the correct thing to say is touchscreen and not “screentouch.”
So there you have it, 10 English language “words” Nigerians love to use that are not found in the dictionary. Feel free to add yours.
Cc: Lalasticlala

wow......am guilty of some of these

I can think dis have made FP before,

Nice n educative! Mana Béékéé abüghï asüsü nna nna m ha!!
Igbo bü Igbo kwénü!!

juniorportland:
wow......am guilty of some of these

Bros no be some anything. We're all guilty of all. No dey form oyinbo

BLINGZ88:
I can think dis have made FP before,

even if it has, it is posted there to educate.. Thatz Y it is posted in the Education Section

Ermm... how come they are "English" words if they aren't in the dictionary.

[size=26pt]Fanimorous[/size]. Only Yorubas would understand this. .lol

Fanimóra

samted:
Ermm... how come they are "English" words if they aren't in the dictionary.

Check them very well, 'Install' is an english word and 'mentally' is an english word too... So both of 'em together makes an English word thatz nt in the dictionary... They aint Hausa words :-P

wizbeatz01:
Check them very well, 'Install' is an english word and 'mentally' is an english word too... So both of 'em together makes an English word thatz nt in the dictionary... They aint Hausa words :-P

i think a more accurate term should be "grammatically incorrect usage of words"

wizbeatz01:
Check them very well, 'Install' is an english word and 'mentally' is an english word too... So both of 'em together makes an English word thatz nt in the dictionary... They aint Hausa words :-P

i think a more accurate term should be "grammatically incorrect usage of english words"

Op, nice post. Please add "tithers" (from "tithe" to the list

How come they're English words when they are not in the English dictionary

@op how about words like altogether... it's 2 words forming one word. just like the case of alright....
lalasticlala Abeg come and see o

Thanks for your lecture but, we need to know this: we have American, South African, New Zealander & 100s other versions of English recognized in reputable dictionaries. The reason is that English - being a living language - adapts to local conventions in every country it enters & these conventions eventually gain official recognition all because language is made for man; not man for language. But why is there no Nigerian English officially recognized even when we are one of the largest commonwealth nations? ANSWER: Inferiority complex on the part of Nigerians. The colonial mind is still with us - we want to obey the British rules strictly & mechanically. We lack the courage to add or subtract from his rules to suit us as others have audaciously done & are recognized. We seem to think we are made for the Eng Lang & not the other way around. Although languages have rules, their primary role is communication... I don tire jare. i sabi say una don catch ma gist.

Abee79:
Op, nice post. Please add "tithers" (from "tithe" to the list

A tither is either one who pays or collects tithes.
It's correct.

educative tho, 'screentouch' lol, even up till nw, i say that sumtyms

Vessnation.

Op, you're right, but have you heard the word Coinage before?

Leave us to coin our own words abeg

Try spacing out your post op, or better still, space 'em up and number 'em.
Like the poster above me rightly said, Nigerians are specialties when it comes to 'neologism'...
.
Don't be surprised if one or more of those words are referenced in the future versions of some dictionaries...
.
Did you know the word 'yam' is a Nigerian invented English?...there are others which originated from Africa et Nigeria.
.
Nonetheless, until then, thanks for these.

I don't think there anything wrong using the word 'disvirgin'. It's still acceptable.

Ojestas:
[size=26pt]Fanimorous[/size]. Only Yorubas would understand this. .lol

Fanimóra

fanimorous here in Nigeria means attractive or appealing... naija I hail ooo.

Sunny360:

A tither is either one who pays or collects tithes.
It's correct.

Noted