How to Learn Nigerian Pidgin, Step by Step

To learn Nigerian Pidgin, start with audio so you hear its tones, then learn the small words that show time. Most of its words come from English, and some come from Nigerian languages, like agbo (herbal medicine) from Yoruba. About 116 million people spoke it as a second language in 2020.

How to Learn Nigerian Pidgin, Step by Step

Do the first four steps in your first few weeks. Keep doing steps 5 and 6 after that.

• 🎧Hear Pidgin FirstStart with audio, so you notice where Pidgin sounds different from English. The th sound often turns into t or d, as in tink (think) and dem (them).
• 🎵Listen for the TonesA word can mean something else when its pitch goes high or low. Copy whole phrases from audio, so the pitch comes with the words.
• 🧩Learn the Small Time WordsVerbs keep one form, and small words show the time. Bin marks the past, de shows something is going on, don shows it is finished, and go means “will.”
• 💬Learn Everyday QuestionsPick up the questions people ask all the time, like Shebi you dey come? It means “You are coming, right?”
• 📖Read and Listen at Your LevelSpend most of your study time on stories and videos you can mostly follow, and save the phrases you want to use.
• 🗣️Talk With PeopleFind a tutor or a Nigerian friend to talk with once a week, and ask them to correct one phrase each time.

For the first two steps, BBC News Pidgin has news videos of one to four minutes, so you can hear Pidgin spoken clearly. For step 5, the guide to Pidgin you can follow suggests stories for each level, and italki lists Nigerian Pidgin tutors for step 6.

Find Where You Are

Bubblegum is a language app with Nigerian Pidgin lessons, and every line has audio and its meaning in English. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes them at six levels. Find the sentence below that sounds like you, and start with that row.

1. Level 1

   I'm just starting out or know only a few words.

   Read along with short lessons that have audio, and say each line out loud. Learn greetings and the questions you hear most.

2. Level 2

   I can read simple sentences.

   Read the jollof rice story with the audio on, and save three phrases you'd like to say yourself. Use bin, de and don in sentences of your own.

   A Level 2 story about jollof rice →
3. Level 3

   I can read short stories and messages.

   Read short news stories about things you already know, and start talking with a tutor or friend once a week.

4. Level 4

   I can read longer texts about everyday life.

   Listen to radio talk and comedy, and write down the phrases you want to say yourself.

5. Level 5

   I can follow complex topics, but miss some details.

   Follow longer reports and debates, and keep a list of words you can't guess from English.

6. Level 6

   I can read almost anything.

   Talk about news and stories with friends, and ask them what a new word means when you hear it.

Frequently Asked Questions