aproko
/ah-PRO-ko/
Beginner
Updated
An aproko is a busybody: someone who is always in other people’s business. In Nigerian Pidgin, aproko can also mean the gossip itself.
What aproko means
Wikipedia describes two meanings: a person who pokes their nose into other people’s affairs, and gossip or rumor. It’s usually said with an eye-roll. Calling someone an aproko means they talk too much about things that don’t concern them, and you probably shouldn’t tell them your secrets.
Examples
- “Don’t tell Tunde anything, he’s an aproko.”
- “Which aproko told my mum I was at the party?”
- “What’s the latest aproko about the new manager?”
Where it came from
It’s Nigerian Pidgin. Where the word itself comes from isn’t settled.
Related terms
- Gist: gossip, or a good chat.
- Tea: gossip, in US slang.
- Spill the tea: share the gossip.
- Receipts: proof.
More Nigerian words are in our Nigerian slang guide.
Example sentence
Close the window, the aproko next door is listening.
Similar words
busybody, gossip
Notes
Usually negative or sarcastic.
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