Liberian English

Consider this a very basic Liberian English to American English dictionary, featuring some of the expressions I hear on a daily basis. This of course excludes those clipped phrases I haven’t been able to make out yet, so as I learn and decipher more I will share them with you.

How was the night? = It means pretty much what it says, but sounds far more exotic and full of potential than “How was your night?”

To flash = To call someone’s cell phone and hang up after the first ring. This essentially forces the person to call you back and incur the charge for the call. You can also text someone a pre-selected message when you’re completely out of money on your cell phone scratch card – it simply reads, “Please call me.”

Small–small = So so

Holla–holla = Lots of trouble


Most businesses here are named in a very straightforward fashion, and the store owners who don’t believe the name painted on their storefront is explanatory enough post signs listing what they sell (one sign reads: scratch cards, cell phones, newspapers, cement, shoes, zinc)

However other stores sell products that don’t pertain to their names at all, like:

Quench Your Thirst International, Inc., which sells ice cream (Does ice cream quench one’s thirst? And does anyone believe this chain exists outside of Monrovia?)

Uncle Joe’s Jewelry, which sells tires


And while I’m discussing (mis)representation, there’s also Stop & Shop (not related in any way to the American supermarket but which uses a *very* similar logo), J-Mart (a KMart offshoot?), and City Builders (featuring a decent rendition of the Home Depot logo).

You can imagine how all of these sightings can make even our daily drive to work endlessly interesting.