Street
wahala
What does wahala mean?
Wahala is one of the most widely used West African Pidgin words, describing any kind of trouble, problem, or stressful hassle. 'No wahala' is a near-universal way of saying 'no problem, it's fine.'
"Abeg no wahala, I go send the money tomorrow."
Origin
Traced by Farooq Kperogi to the Arabic 'wahla' (fright/terror), which entered Nigerian Pidgin via Hausa; now a foundational word across West African Pidgin generally.
Frequently asked questions
What does wahala mean?
Trouble, problem, or hassle of any kind — the word behind the famous phrase 'no wahala' (no problem).
Is wahala only Nigerian?
It's used across much of West Africa in Pidgin/Creole speech, though it entered Nigerian Pidgin via Hausa.
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