kò sí wàhálà
In Yoruba, "no wahala" is expressed as kò sí wàhálà.
kò sí wàhálà is used to indicate that a situation is not problematic or to say "it's okay." It is also a common way to say "you're welcome" or "don't worry about it" in response to an apology.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of kò sí, meaning "there is not" and wàhálà, meaning "trouble" or "problem".
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun wàhálà can be used in various contexts to describe stress, difficulty or a physical commotion.
Did you know?
- Because Yoruba is a tonal language, changing the pitch of the vowels in wàhálà can change the meaning of the word entirely, making the melodic contour of the phrase as important as the letters themselves.
- While kò sí wàhálà is the formal Yoruba phrase, the version 'no wahala' is a distinct hybrid of English and Yoruba known as Nigerian Pidgin, which acts as a lingua franca across many different ethnic groups in Nigeria.
- In Nigeria, saying 'no wahala' can be a strategic social tool to signal that a speaker is dropping a subject specifically to avoid an argument.
Examples in context
- Ko si isoro.I'll gladly help you out.
Example conversation
Morenike asks Babatunde for a small favor.
- MorenikeJọ̀wọ́, ṣé o le ràn mí lọ́wọ́?Please, can you help me?
- BabatundeBẹ́ẹ̀ ni, kò sí wàhálà.Yes, no problem.
- MorenikeẸ ṣé pupọ̀, Babatunde.Thank you very much, Babatunde.
- BabatundeKò tọ́ sí nǹkan, Morenike.It is nothing, Morenike.
