Zionite International School Ile-ife

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NIGERIAN ENGLISH VS STANDARD ENGLISH (PART 1)
When I hear people say, “Who English help?” this is one of the topics I show them. 😂

Most Nigerian English expressions are direct translations. The meaning is often correct, but the structure is not.

Nigerian English is not bad, but you can’t use it for exams, interviews, international communication, or formal meetings, except in informal or colloquial settings.

The big problem is that you might be writing and speaking with these Nigerian expressions, thinking they are correct when they aren’t.

The fact that most of them are translated from your mother tongue does not make them correct.

Let’s take a look at some of these Nigerian expressions:

1. I am coming ❌
I will be right back ✔️
I will return shortly ✔️

In Standard English, “coming” means movement towards the listener.

In many Nigerian languages, the same word is used for going away briefly and returning.
So we translate the idea, not the direction. 😂

2. I forgot my phone at home ❌
I left my phone at home ✔️

When you say “forgot,” it means your memory failed, not that the phone is physically at home.

Most Nigerian languages use one verb for forgetting and leaving behind. 😂

3. Off the light ❌
Turn off the light ✔️

“Off” is not a verb in Standard English.
Nigerian languages often allow adjectives to function as verbs, so we transfer that rule.

4. Stop pressing your phone ❌
Stop using your phone ✔️

“Press” describes a physical action, not general phone usage.

But because phones were originally button-based, and Nigerian languages describe usage by physical action, Nigerians say “press phone.” 😂

5. The car spoiled ❌
The car broke down ✔️

In Standard English, “spoil” means to decay or ruin food.

In Nigerian languages, “spoil” often covers damage, spoilage, and malfunction. 😂

6. My phone is bad ❌
My phone is faulty ✔️

“Bad” often describes quality or behaviour, not technical condition.
In Nigeria, “bad” is used broadly for anything that is not working well. 😂

7. I am hearing you ❌
I can hear you ✔️

In Standard English, the present continuous tense suggests a temporary action in progress.

But in Nigerian English, the continuous tense is used for "states" in many indigenous languages.

This also applies to:
I am understanding you ❌
I understand you ✔️

8. He is staying far ❌
He lives far away ✔️

“Stay” describes temporary residence.
When someone stays somewhere, it means they are only there for a short time.

In Nigerian English, stay = live, because many indigenous languages don’t distinguish between the two.

9. I am coming late ❌
I will be late ✔️

“Coming late” suggests movement, not timing.
Nigerian English translates directly from expressions where “coming late” refers to lateness rather than arrival. 😂

10. I am not chanced ❌
I am not available ✔️
I don’t have the opportunity ✔️

“Chance” is not used as a passive verb this way in Standard English.

Nigerian languages use “chance” to mean opportunity, availability, or luck. 😂

11. I did not see you since ❌
I haven’t seen you since… ✔️

“Since” usually requires the present perfect tense, not the past simple.

Many Nigerian languages don’t mark tense through verb changes.

12. He is on medication since this last week ❌
He has been on medication since last week ✔️

An ongoing action that started in the past requires the present perfect continuous tense.

Time markers often replace tense changes in Nigerian languages.

13. I am having malaria ❌
I have malaria ✔️

Malaria is a state, not a temporary activity.
In Nigerian languages, the continuous tense is commonly used for illnesses. 😂
- I am having fever ❌
- I have fever✔️

14. I am coming now now ❌
I am coming immediately ✔️
I am on my way ✔️

Reduplication is not standard in English.
Nigerian languages use repetition for emphasis.

Another common example is:
Do it sharp sharp
As if saying “sharp sharp” will make me fast—am I Flash? 😂

15. I will branch your house ❌
I will stop by your house ✔️
“Branch” does not mean visit in Standard English.

Metaphorical usage from local languages is often transferred into English. 😂

copied from our teacher
©️ Precious Chimaobi