Common Expressions Used In Liberia

Below are just a few of the expressions that form the pidgin language called Liberian English. If you have lived in Liberia, please add to this list.

1. Leave them, they will come to theysef- a form of what comes around goes around
2. The fish gets rotten at the head- implies that when there is a problem with a system or organization, look first to its leader
3. Never Mind yah- don’t worry
4. Borning- the process of giving birth
5. Man business or woman business- about love and dating
6. Baby mah-baby’s mother
7. Baby pa-baby’s father
8. Ole Ma- older woman
9. Ole Pa-older father
10. Small shop- small roadside shop, typically a zinc or zinc covered shack, where small items like bread, soda, razor blades, and cakes of wash soap are sold.
11. Dash- a kickback used more in Ghana
12. Cold water- same as a dash
13. Yah- yes
14. ‘O’- something that is said to emphasize a statement- she’s mad ‘O’ (she’s really mad!)
15. Abuse – (pronounce abuuz) As in how can you abuse me like that? - Means to cuss the person directly. The act of calling a person a Bitch or a Fucker is abusing the actual person, using the word without connecting it to the person is not abuse.
16. Americo-Liberian- a person descended from American slaves that relocated to Liberia
17. To beg – To beg is to humble yourself acknowledging that you are wrong and to show remorse. Asking for forgiveness is a common thing and people are not too proud to admit wrong doing. This can be a ploy to manipulate a person that is perceived in a class (Liberia, like America is very class orientated) above you. Often the begging is insincere. It is also important to note that begging a person’s forgiveness does not mean that the same offense will not be committed again; it just means you acknowledge that it was wrong, and you regret being caught. There are many things that people do for survival, not malice and begging acts to clear the conscience.
18. Congo people- slaves that were taken from the interior of African (the former Belgium Congo region) that became free in Liberia and never made the trip to the United States but are an amalgam of many tribes.
19. Coal pot – a coal pot is a utensil similar if function as a barbecue pit. See the Coal pot as a metaphor.
20. Na fo- a rhythmic children’s clapping game, similar to hambone that is popular in Liberia.
21. Civilized- having more modern, as opposed to traditional tribal, behaviors, mannerisms or lifestyle.
22. Bush school- (called also Sande Bush or Gola Bush) the traditional and secret system through which male and female initiates learn the ways of their tribe. It is said that young people learn marriage customs, tribal roles and responsibilities and how to accurately tell time without a clock, herbal cures and how to be a responsible member of the tribe. It is during this initiation that tribes that carry out the rite of circumcision.
23. As God so fixed it- means according to the will of God
24. Grunna boy or grunna girl- means a street child; literally a grownup girl or grown up boy.
25. What news? – What’s up and the response commonly given is, No bad news.