Chale

Chale (GHANA)
*Alternative Spellings: Charlie, Charle
*pronounced: "Char-lay/Chaa-lay"

A VERY popular Ghanaian (Pidgin English) expression used in multiple senses (depending on rising/falling intonation):

1. in the same sense as the words "Dude" or "Homie." Synonymous with the American "Jack" or "Joe" as a way of addressing another person directly. Supposedly believed to have originated from the Chicago-based slang "Charlie" (pron. "Chali"), used in the same vein to address someone directly.

2. used with "Oh" as an expression of disappointment, pity, sympathy.

3. used with "Oh" as an expression of agreement with someone else's statement. Used in the same vein as "I know right?" or "Tell me about it."

eg. 1: What's up, chale? / Ahh, charlie, cool things. (<- Ghanaian pidgin for "Nothing much; Life's great; I'm alright.)

eg. 2: Nana isn't doing too great. His girlfriend recently passed away. / Are you serious? Oh charlie, the poor boy.

eg. 3: We're shelving all these books today? All this hard work...just for $8.00 an hour. / Oh charlie. E hard oo. (<- Ghanaian pidgin for "It's a hard or tough life.")

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Trotro

Trotro (Ghana)

*Alias "Troski"
*Pronounced: "Traw-traw" (like the word 'draw')

Private-owned buses and vans that act as the biggest and cheapest means of inter-city mass transportation in Ghana. The buses are typically minibuses or vans, with the most popular being Nissan Urvan 15-seaters and Mercedes Benz Sprinter or D 309 vans. Seating arrangements typically include:

• two "front seats" up by the driver's seat
• about 4 rows of longer bench seats with the bus conductor (called the "Mate") at the seat closest to the vehicle door.

The word may have been derived from the Ga (Gà) word "tro" meaning "pesewa" (the smallest unit of Ghanaian currency), given the trotro's status as a cheap means of transportation.

Trotros are typically decorated with flags and stickers of various countries or (local and international) soccer teams, and with witty sayings, wisecracks, local proverbs or Bible verses printed on the bus's rear.

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1. How did you get here? / I took a trotro.

2. His day couldn't have been worse. While waiting in that heavy downpour to grab a taxi, he was assailed with mud and dirty rain water by a speeding trotro. To Boat's annoyance, the only "apology" he got from the mate's mouth was an energetic "Circ-Kanesh."