Chale (pronounced Chah-lee), is a common West-African nonsense word. I've encountered it in conversation with Ghanaians, Nigerians, and even in an autobiography from Sierra Leone (note: A Long Way Gone is an amazing story of a child-soldier from the Civil War in SL, and requisite reading for anyone going there. Plus, it's an easy read. But I digress....). Chale can be used in almost any context, and it might be easiest for me to just point out some examples:
Taxi driver: "This ride will cost you 5 cedis."
Me (being very Ghanaian): "Ah! Chale! That is too much!"
Boy watching football in my hostel: "Chale! Did you see that goal?"
My roommate Ama, on the phone in our room: "...Chale! No way! Tell me what happened!"
No one seems to have any firm definitions for Chale, so I'm loosely considering it a sort of benign expletive that's flexible enough to be used happily, out of frustration, or with anxiety. But in general it's a fun word, and makes any visitor to Ghana feel a tad more native.
Hey! Chale!
Monday, April 19, 2010
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Chale! I miss you!
ReplyDeleteThe word 'chalѐ’ contrary to popular belief is not a Ga word. It came from the American G.I.'s that were stationed in Accra in the 40's during the 2nd World War who would refer to everyone as Charlie during radio transmissions to allied forces. This word being heard by the Ghanaians at the base was taken away and used in their own accent would sound more like Chale than Charlie.
ReplyDeleteOver the years it has come to be commonly known to mean 'my friend'.
Wow. Thanks
Deletei like toks post.. before reading it, i figured it probably mostly resembles the F word since i don't think anyone can give me an actual definition. But alas, chale.
ReplyDeleteCharlie is the equivalent of an American saying "man". As in "man, I can't wait to see you". In Ghana man is replaced with Charlie.
DeleteI'd recently heard some Africans saying this and I thought this was so familiar. I'm from the Southern US and I'm used to hearing especially among older Blacks the word, "Chile". I always thought it was "Child". But the pronunciation was a bit strange, how it drawled. It seemed out of place considering adults might address each other with this, when boy or girl for an adult was offensively wrong.
ReplyDeleteSo I deduced that it really wasn't "Child" at all but some other word that managed to endure. There are apparently a few words that survived the Middle Passage and slavery. Maybe this is one...
"Oh chile! That is too much!"
"Chile, please"
It's interesting this link between the GI's however, my grandfather had served at that time and "Chile" was in the lexicon long before the war. Additionally, the use of "Charlie" in the military stemmed from the Vietnam war. Charlie = Viet cong.
Now, to figure out where from where the neck-roll originates and I am done!
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteInteresting; I was always thought Chile was just a country.....to read that there is a phrase ...very interesting!
DeleteHey! Local friends in Ghana use it all the time to mean 'my guy'. I guess it would be a Ghanaian version of slang affectionate terms for friends like dude or bro. I realize these are all strangely in masculine form, but I have also noticed males using it more than females! Either way, it's fun to say.
ReplyDeleteIt's NOT a nonsense word. Chaley derives from the Old English word "Charley" which means "friend." I heard the term being used in British cinema few times. Notably the James Bond film: "Live and Let Die" during the car chase scene in NYC.
ReplyDelete*Chale 1, 2, 3, 4 and all, thanks 4 d info y'all, wat a nice analogy y'all ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the explanation(s), my friend and I were wondering for a long time what chale actually meant.
ReplyDeleteCorrection, Nigerians might say Chai! not Chalee! I have never heard a Nigerian say Chale! in Nigeria. The one's you met might have become appropriately Ghanianised.
ReplyDeleteOlamide has used it as the first word in the song "First of All". He is definitely Nigerian.
DeleteLol
ReplyDeletePronounced: "Char-lay/Chaa-lay"
I agree, it's a fun word :-)
J Hus - Good Luck Chale
ReplyDeleteCharley is most use by the people in the capital of the country and those who are fluent in speaking pidgin also uses it.
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