African English
Dey
Used when indicating possession or existence in conversation.
Literal Meaning
They; the plural form of the third person pronoun referring to multiple people or things.
Actual Meaning
Nigerian Pidgin verb
Examples in Context

They dey come for the party later tonight.

How far, we dey wait for you?

She no dey chop well these days.

Helpful Tips
  • 1In Nigerian Pidgin, 'dey' is often used to indicate an ongoing action, similar to saying 'are' in English.
  • 2'Dey' can also imply a sense of presence or existence, so when you hear it, think about whether someone is currently doing something or is in a certain place.
  • 3If someone asks you where something is and responds with 'it dey there', they mean it is located there.
  • 4Listen for the tone and context in which 'dey' is used; it can convey excitement, urgency, or simply regular conversation.
Phrase Thesaurus
Similar words and synonyms for this phrase
be
exist
occur
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