wahala

English

Alternative forms

• wahalla

Etymology

From Yoruba wàhálà, from Hausa wàhalā̀, from Arabic وَهْلَة (wahla, “fright, terror”).

Noun

wahala (uncountable)

1. (Nigeria) trouble; problem.
   • 2005, Paul Carter, Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs, Crows Nest: Allen and Unwin, page 133:

     Oscar flashed me another bent grin, palmed a pistol from under the seat and said, "First time in Nigeria? No wahalla, you are always protected sa."

Hausa

Etymology

From Arabic وَهْلَة (wahla, “fright, terror”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wà.há.làː/
  • (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA^(key): [wə̀.há.làː]

Noun

wàhalā̀ f (plural wahalōcī or wàhàlce-wàhàlce or wàhàlhàlū, possessed form wàhalàr̃)

1. trouble, problem, difficulty

Descendants

• → Yoruba: wàhálà, وَهَلَ; wàálà
  • → Krio: wahala
  • → Nigerian Pidgin: wahala

Krio

Alternative forms

• waala

Etymology

From Yoruba wàhálà, from Hausa wàhalā̀, from Arabic وَهْلَة (wahla, “fright, terror”).

Noun

wahala

1. trouble, problem

Nigerian Pidgin

Etymology

From Yoruba wàhálà, from Hausa wàhalā̀, from Arabic وَهْلَة (wahla, “fright, terror”).

Noun

wahala

1. trouble, suffering, problem, bad luck

Yoruba

Alternative forms

• وَهَلَ
• wàálà

Etymology

From Hausa wàhalā̀, from Arabic وَهْلَة (wahla, “fright, terror”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wà.há.là/

Noun

wàhálà

1. trouble, problem, difficulty

   Synonyms: ìṣòro, gòòbe, rògbòdìyàn, yánpọnyánrin

Descendants

• → Krio: wahala
• → Nigerian Pidgin: wahala