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wallahi
What does wallahi mean?
Wallahi is used across Nigerian Pidgin, especially where there's Islamic and Hausa influence, to swear that something is true — similar to saying 'I swear' or 'on God' in English slang.
"Wallahi, I did not touch your phone."
Origin
An Arabic oath ('by Allah') that entered Nigerian Pidgin largely through Hausa-Islamic speech patterns; now used by Nigerians of many backgrounds as a general-purpose emphatic swear, separate from its formal religious use.
Frequently asked questions
What does wallahi mean?
"I swear to God" or "believe me" — an emphatic way of insisting something is true.
Is wallahi religious?
It comes from an Arabic religious oath, but in everyday Nigerian Pidgin it's used casually as a general emphatic expression, not just in a religious context.
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