Nigeria is home to more than 250 ethnic groups and, depending on which count you trust, somewhere north of 500 indigenous languages — making it one of the most linguistically diverse countries on Earth. For travellers, though, the picture on the ground is a lot simpler than that number suggests. Here's what you actually need to know about the languages of Nigeria before you go.
What is Nigeria's official language?
English, a legacy of British colonial rule, and it's genuinely one of the easier destinations we run tours to if English is your first language. All official signage, menus and services are in English, and most people in Lagos and the other cities our tours visit speak it fluently.
How many languages are spoken in Nigeria?
Estimates vary, but most linguists put the number of indigenous languages spoken in Nigeria at well over 500, a reflection of the country's 250-plus ethnic groups. Three languages dominate as the country's major national languages: Hausa in the north, Yoruba in the south-west, and Igbo in the south-east. Our tours run through Yoruba territory, so a few words of Yoruba go a long way with the locals you'll meet.
Yoruba Basics
Yoruba is a tonal language, so getting the pronunciation exactly right takes practice, but locals will always appreciate the effort. A few basics worth learning before you go:
- Bawo ni – Hello / How are you
- O dabo – Goodbye
- E se – Thank you
- Jowo – Please
Numbers
Counting in Yoruba is famously complicated, built on a base-20 system rather than a straightforward base-10 one, so don't worry about mastering it — even many Nigerians default to English or Pidgin numbers in everyday conversation.
What is Nigerian Pidgin?
Alongside English and the indigenous languages, you'll hear Nigerian Pidgin everywhere — an English-based creole that acts as the country's true lingua franca, spoken and understood far more widely than any single indigenous language. It bridges Nigeria's linguistic divides and is used constantly in markets, on the street and between friends, regardless of which indigenous language someone grew up speaking. A few phrases go a long way:
- How far? – A casual hello (“how's it going?”)
- No wahala – No problem
- Abeg – Please
You'll hear all three constantly, often within the same conversation.
Hausa and Igbo
Outside the Yoruba south-west, Hausa is the dominant language of Nigeria's mostly Muslim north, spoken around cities like Kano, while Igbo is the major language of the south-east, around Calabar and the Niger Delta. Both are outside the region our current tour covers, but useful to know about if you're building a longer custom itinerary with us.
Do Nigerians speak English? What can travellers expect
Yes, and at a high level compared to many of the destinations we run tours to. In Lagos and the other cities on our route, you'll have no trouble communicating in English with hotel staff, guides, restaurant servers and most people you meet. That said, you'll also hear English constantly blended with Pidgin and local languages in everyday conversation between Nigerians, which is part of what makes the linguistic mix of the country so distinctive.
Do We Offer Nigeria Tours?
Yes, our Best of Nigeria tour runs each February through the Yoruba heartland, and if our Saiga guide isn't already fluent, our local guides speak English, Yoruba and Pidgin, so the language barrier is never an issue on the road. You can see full dates and pricing on our Nigeria tours page .
To secure your place, send us an email at [email protected].
