Street
sabi
What does sabi mean?
Expresses knowledge, familiarity, or competence — "I sabi" means "I know/I can," while "I no sabi" means "I don't know."
"Make you go talk to am, na you sabi am."
Origin
From Portuguese "saber" (to know), as documented in the Wikipedia "Nigerian Pidgin" article and confirmed by Pulse.ng's article on Pidgin's origins.
Frequently asked questions
What does "sabi" mean?
It means "to know" something or someone, or to be skilled/capable at something.
Where does "sabi" come from?
It traces back to the Portuguese verb "saber," meaning "to know" — a legacy of early Portuguese trade contact along the West African coast.
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