“On the way coming” and other perplexing phrases from The Ginglish (Ghanaian-English) Dictionary

For the freshly arrived returnee, never-lived-in-Ghana Ghanaian or foreigner, communicating in Ghanaian English (Ginglish) can be quite challenging. One is suddenly confronted by a plethora of words, expressions and phrases understood only by Ghanaians. Some of these can leave you perplexed, worried and completely befuddled since the meanings are not always implicit. In her newspaper column and book The Imported Ghanaian , Alba Sumprim explored Ghanaisms with humour and cleared the fog for many of us. Anyway, here are a few Ginglish expressions I encounter on a daily basis:

• “On the way coming” [meaning]: I am as far away from where you are as humanely possible but will lie and say I have already set off to meet you. So let's say you have to meet Jack at the Accra Mall at 8am on a Saturday morning. When you call his mobile at 8:15am, He could tell you he is “on the way coming” which in reality means Jack is lying comfortably in bed at home with 1 hour to leave and a 2 hour ride in heavy traffic up ahead. Jack will show up at 11:15am and blame it all on the traffic.
  

• “Filla” [meaning]: gossip, news, rumour
  

• “Chop” [meaning]: To eat, enjoy, have. One can chop food or even money.
  

• “Chale”/”Charlie”: probably the most common hip Ghanaian expression but which does not really have any meaning….it is like adding “Dude.” To the start of your expressions.

• You are invited” [meaning]: I’m pretending to be courteous by extending an invitation for you to join me as I eat my food but if you come anywhere near me and food, I will skin you alive.

• “You, if anything, I’ll call” [meaning]: Stop harassing me with your calls! You are about to make me avoid you like the plague. Watch me never call you again.
  

• “You go come” [meaning]: I’m about to give you the biggest run-around of your life. Call me tomorrow and I will tell you to call me the next day. Call me the next day and I will tell you to call the next (next) day. This will go on and on and on until you get tired.

• “How far?” [meaning]: How much progress has been made on that thing I keep incessantly pestering you about?
  

• “Don’t bring yourself” [meaning]: Mind your own business

• “Don’t mind him/her [meaning]: Whatever him/her says ignore it
  

• “Try for me” [meaning]:I want you to do the impossible ….for me. Move mountains, turn water into wine and bend over backwards….just for me.
  

• “Consider me” [meaning]: similar to try for me. I want you to do the impossible ….for me. Move mountains, turn water into wine and bend over backwards….just for me.

• “That Abena she is another!”: this is one phrase that leaves me begging for more…Another what?! All I have been able to establish is that it is not meant in a positive light

• “She/he is someway” : Just like being another, this phrase leaves you on cliff-hanger…which way? It basically means I don’t understand She/he's behavior!
  

• “Vocabs” [meaning]: The English language repertoire that an individual has. Or can also mean ability to speak English.

• “Slang”: Don’t be fooled, this word is not referring to local jargons, patois, pidgin or creole, [meaning] To speak with some sort of a foreign accent which could be a locally acquired or a genuine foreign accent. Yes, when I first made my Ghana debut all those years ago, I was told incessantly that I had “slangs”.
  

Chale, I gradually got used to Ginglish and once everyone could understand my slangs I started chopping Ghana life and enjoying all the filla. Anyway fair readers, if you have other Ginglish expressions, Ghanaisms or feel my definitions are some way, please feel free to comment!