One beautiful thing about being Nigerian is that sometimes, what we say is completely different from what we actually mean.

Take “I am coming.”

The person may not be coming immediately. They could still be bathing, dressing, eating or even sitting comfortably at home.

Then there is “Come and eat.”

Sometimes, it is a genuine invitation. Other times, it is simply Nigerian courtesy. If you actually get up immediately, you may discover that nobody expected you to take the invitation seriously.

What about “You tried.”

Depending on the tone, this could mean congratulations, disappointment, sarcasm or “Please don't do this again.”

Then there is “No problem.”

Sometimes it means there is truly no problem.

Other times, it means there is a very serious problem, but the person has decided not to discuss it yet.

And let's not forget “We thank God.”

This expression can carry an entire emotional documentary.

You got a job? We thank God.

You lost your job? We thank God.

You travelled safely? We thank God.

The situation is terrible but you don't want to explain? We thank God.

Another classic is “Manage it.”

Someone gives you something old, damaged or slightly inconvenient and says, “Just manage it.”

Nigerians can turn almost anything into a survival exercise.

Then there is “I'm on my way.”

This one deserves its own dictionary.

"I am on my way" could mean:

“I'm already outside.”

“I'm putting on my shoes.”

“I'm about to take a bath.”

“I haven't even left the house.”

It all depends on the person.

And finally, “Let me hear from you.”

Sometimes it genuinely means, “Please contact me.”

Other times, it is the Nigerian way of ending a conversation without actually making any commitment.

These expressions may confuse foreigners, but Nigerians understand them almost automatically.

Because in Nigeria, sometimes you don't just listen to the words.

You listen to the tone, the situation and the person saying them.