Vehicles

1. Ọkọ̀

   Vehicle

   Usage

   The base word for any vehicle — without the tone marks, "ọkọ" means husband

2. Ọkọ̀ ayọ́kẹ́lẹ́

   Car

   Usage

   A car — in everyday speech people often just say "mọ́tò"

3. Bọ̀ọ̀sì

   Bus

   Usage

   From English "bus" — the stop is "ibùdó bọ̀ọ̀sì"

4. Danfo

   Danfo (yellow minibus)

   Usage

   The yellow-with-black-stripes minibus that symbolises Lagos — a conductor shouts the destination, so call out your stop. Carry small change

5. Molue

   Molue (big yellow bus)

   Usage

   The big yellow Lagos bus — once the backbone of city transport, now nearly regulated out of existence

6. Korope

   Korope (small minibus)

   Usage

   Smaller than a danfo, seating about fourteen — it works short routes and residential backstreets

7. BRT

   BRT (bus rapid transit)

   Usage

   The big buses on Lagos's dedicated lanes — prepaid by card, and safer and clearer than a danfo

8. Okada

   Okada (motorcycle taxi)

   Usage

   Understood across Nigeria — it beats the traffic but crashes are common, and it is banned in parts of Lagos

9. Keke marwa

   Keke marwa (tricycle taxi)

   Usage

   The three-wheeled shared taxi, named after Marwa, the Lagos governor who introduced them — elsewhere called keke napep

10. Alùpùpù

    Motorcycle

    Usage

    The machine itself — the taxi service is "okada"

11. Kẹ̀kẹ́

    Bicycle

    Usage

    Same root as the "keke" in keke marwa, but on its own it means a bicycle

12. Ọkọ̀ akẹ́rù

    Truck / lorry

    Usage

    Literally "load-carrying vehicle" — they fill the highways, so take care overtaking

13. Ọkọ̀ ìgbàlà

    Ambulance

    Usage

    Literally "vehicle of rescue" — "pè ọkọ̀ ìgbàlà fún mi" asks someone to call one

14. Ọkọ̀ ojú-irin

    Train

    Usage

    Literally "vehicle on the iron road" — Lagos has urban rail, plus lines towards Abuja

15. Ọkọ̀ òfuurufú

    Airplane

    Usage

    Literally "vehicle of the sky" — the airport is "pápá ọkọ̀ òfuurufú"

16. Ọkọ̀ ojú omi

    Boat / ship

    Usage

    Literally "vehicle on the water" — used for the ferries across the Lagos lagoon

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