noun
Common
Nigerian
neye-JEER-reern
Nigerian (noun) means a person who is from Nigeria or has Nigerian ancestry. Example: “Many Nigerians living abroad send money home to support family.”
noun
1
A person who is from Nigeria or has Nigerian ancestry.
"He added that Nigerians were also pained watching their leaders live in luxury while they struggled to make ends meet."
— Nimi Princewill and Stephanie Busari, Violence erupts as Nigerians protest hunger across the nation (2024)
"Many Nigerians living abroad send money home to support family."
adj
1
Relating to Nigeria, its people, or its culture.
"Nigerian cinema, often called Nollywood, produces more films per year than almost any other country."
"One protester in the Nigerian capital told the national Channels Television that he was forced to join the Thursday protests due to hunger."
— Nimi Princewill and Stephanie Busari, Violence erupts as Nigerians protest hunger across the nation (2024)
How to use Nigerian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes anything to do with Nigeria, or refers to a person from there.
Common pairings
Nigerian food
Nigerian English
a Nigerian passport
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Word forms
- Plural
- Nigerians
Fill the gap
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Many _____ living abroad send money home to support family.
Etymology
Formed by adding the common nationality suffix "-an" to "Nigeria."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Nigerian
See all rhymes for Nigerian →Frequently asked questions
What does “Nigerian” mean?
The word “Nigerian” means a person who is from Nigeria or has Nigerian ancestry. In plain terms, describes anything to do with Nigeria, or refers to a person from there.
How do you pronounce “Nigerian”?
“Nigerian” is pronounced neye-JEER-reern (/naɪˈd͡ʒɪəɹɪən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Nigerian” in a sentence?
Here is “Nigerian” used in a sentence: “Many Nigerians living abroad send money home to support family.”
What part of speech is “Nigerian”?
Depending on how it is used, “Nigerian” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “Nigerian” a common word?
“Nigerian” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Nigerian” have?
“Nigerian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who is from Nigeria or has Nigerian ancestry.
What is the difference between Nigerian and Nigerien?
Nigerian refers to Nigeria, the West African country whose capital is Abuja, while Nigerien refers to Niger, its neighbor to the north. The two demonyms look similar and are frequently confused, but they describe people and things from two different countries.
Is Nigerian always capitalized?
Yes. Nigerian is a proper adjective and noun derived from the country name Nigeria, so it is capitalized in all uses, whether describing a person, the culture, or things like Nigerian music and Nigerian food.
Is Nigerian a language?
No. Nigerian describes a nationality, not a language; Nigeria's official language is English, and its most widely spoken indigenous languages include Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. Many Nigerians also speak Nigerian Pidgin, an English-based creole used across the country.
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