pidgin English

Pidgin English

also pidgin English

Any of several pidgins based on English and now spoken mostly on the Pacific islands and in West Africa.

[Alteration of pigeon English, from Pidgin English pigeon, business, perhaps from a Chinese pronunciation of English business.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pidgin English

(Languages) a pidgin in which one of the languages involved is English

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pidg′in

(or Pidg′in) Eng′lish,

1. Chinese Pidgin English.

2. any of various other pidgins with lexicons taken primarily from English, as Bislama and New Guinea Pidgin.

[1820–30; pidgin, pigeon < Chinese Pidgin E: business, affair; orig. uncertain]

Translations

pidgin English

n → Pidgin-English nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

pidgin English

[ˈpɪdʒɪnˈɪŋglɪʃ] n → pidgin english m inv

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

"How fashion can do?" Kwaque demanded, who to his beche-de-mer English was already adding pidgin English. "Suppose 'm me fella no got 'm what 'you fella likee?"

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However, the preference for English and Nigerian Pidgin English is endangering the language.

Why Hausa Is A Fascinating Language

One club took receipt of a striker this week, a player whose agent had promised their client was bilingual but it quickly emerged that even a bit of pidgin English was beyond him.

New faces aren't welcomed with open arms... transfer window signings are treated like dressing-room pariahs; CUT-THROAT GAME BEHIND THE SCENES

James Roberts, Wallasey Bad language DEAR Mr President Trump, I am writing to ask that you teach your citizens to speak proper English, instead of the pidgin English that they speak today.

Why can't council and the trains get it right? Email: letters@liverpoolecho.co.uk Phone: 0151 227 2000 Twitter: @LIVECHONEWS Facebook: facebook.com/theliverpoolecho

The appearance of some Native American characters speaking pidgin English, followed shortly by three witchtype apparitions with Oriental accents, seemed to achieve nothing but show the show's age.

Colourful Hair hasn't faded

Also, Pidgin English has gained the unofficial status of a recognised second national language in Nigeria.

Searching for Ghana's second National Language

A Nigerian lady seated two rows on the opposite side from where I was unfastened her belt and went on her knees screaming a prayer in Pidgin English. I looked behind to make eye contact with then-Director of the Kenya National Archives Musila Musembi with whom we had attended a seminar in Abuja.

The common jinx in most plane crashes in Africa

In one email, an 'account officer' at the bank wrote in pidgin English to 'Debora'.

I fell in love with conman who fleeced me out of $60,000... us widow's warning about fraudster claiming to live in harpurhey

Meanwhile, Prince Charles ended his African tour and charmed his Nigerian hosts by breaking into Pidgin English, spoken by 75 million on the continent.

Harry in Indian tribute hint as he honours dead

And that means speaking pidgin English. So I feel we're living in unintelligible times, with daft Donald Trump on one side, deranged Vladimir Putin on the other, and a looming world war in between.

Save us from shirty leaders; Men at top too easily baited

Spoken passages were delivered in an amusing blend of Italian and pidgin English.

Chicago Opera Theater

'No Pain Like This Body, No Body Like This Pain' was based on the book by Indo-Caribbean emigre Harold Sonny Ladoo, whose patois or pidgin English fascinated her.