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i dey
What does i dey mean?
The default answer to "How far?" or "How you dey?", meaning "I am/I'm doing fine." "Dey" itself is the Pidgin existence verb, roughly "to be."
"A: How far? B: I dey, thank God."
Origin
Built from the Pidgin verb "dey" (to be/exist); confirmed as the standard reply to greetings by naijalingo.com and the British Council's Pidgin phrase guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does "I dey" mean?
It means "I'm fine" or "I am," used as a reply to a greeting.
What does "dey" mean on its own?
"Dey" is the Pidgin verb for "to be" or an ongoing-action marker, e.g. "I dey go" = "I am going."
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