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Africa slang
'You're joking / not serious' — calling out someone's nonsense
Safe to use?
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
Tone
Casual and context-dependent.
Region
Africa
Formality
Informal.
Context Decoder
Check what it means in context, how it sounds and whether it is safe to use.
Dey play means 'You're joking / not serious' — calling out someone's nonsense. It is best read as africa slang associated with Africa.
"Dey play" means 'You're joking / not serious' — calling out someone's nonsense. In Africa, the nuance may be more specific.
"You wan borrow my car?"
"You dey play."
Casual and context-dependent.
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
Context-dependent
'It's overwhelming / impressive' — hype for something big
'Exactly!' / 'spot on'
A fight or heated exchange (blow-for-blow)
To leave quickly — especially emigrating from Nigeria abroad in search of better opport...
Someone from humble or struggling beginnings — the opposite of a nepo baby
'At the end of the day' / eventually
Nigerian Pidgin; 'you dey play' = you're playing.
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