Street
asa
What does asa mean?
A term for a good-looking woman, or a man's girlfriend. Nkamigbo and Eme's 2011 academic study of Otu-Onitsha market slang records 'asa' (literally 'a kind of fish, catfish') being used specifically for 'a man's girlfriend'; wider Nigerian slang usage has since broadened it simply to 'fine girl.'
"Chidi don land one correct asa for school."
Origin
Recorded as Otu-Onitsha (Onitsha market) trade-community slang in Nkamigbo & Eme (2011), 'Igbo Slang in Otu-Onitsha,' African Research Review 5(6). Literal source word is 'asa,' a type of fish/catfish, extended metaphorically to a girlfriend; general Nigerian slang usage has widened it to mean any fine/attractive girl.
Frequently asked questions
What does Asa mean in Igbo slang?
A fine, attractive girl, or specifically a man's girlfriend in the original Onitsha market usage.
Is Asa a real documented slang word?
Yes — it appears in the peer-reviewed academic study of Otu-Onitsha market slang by Nkamigbo and Eme (2011).
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