The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has expanded its vocabulary by including 20 new Nigerian words in its latest quarterly update. This addition highlights the growing global influence of Nigerian English and Pidgin on the English language.
The newly included words reflect diverse aspects of Nigeria’s culture, language, and daily life. Notable entries include Japa (to flee or escape), 419 (a term for fraud or scam), suya (a spiced meat skewer), agbero (a bus conductor or tout), area boy (street gang member), yahoo boy (internet fraudster), abi (a conversational marker meaning “right?”), gele (a headwrap), and Naija (a colloquial term for Nigeria).
Some words, such as Japa and Jand (a colloquial term for the United Kingdom), are listed in multiple grammatical forms, serving as both nouns and verbs. To aid understanding, the OED has also included audio pronunciations for these words, voiced by Nigerian English consultant Kingsley Ugwuanyi.
Expressing his pride in contributing to the project, Ugwuanyi shared on LinkedIn, “I’m thrilled to announce that the Oxford English Dictionary has officially published its latest updates, featuring a fantastic collection of Nigerian English words that beautifully reflect Nigeria’s culture, creativity, and unique expressions. I had the privilege of drafting most of these words and providing their pronunciations. This milestone represents years of hard work and dedication.” He encouraged Nigerians to share their favorite words from the list and suggest others for future inclusion.
This update builds on a similar milestone in 2020, when the OED included 29 Nigerian words, such as danfo (a minibus), okada (a motorcycle taxi), mama put (a roadside food vendor), and next tomorrow (the day after tomorrow). These additions brought significant attention to Nigerian English, which the OED describes as a “rich source of new words.”
The newly added words largely originate from Pidgin English and local dialects, showcasing Nigeria’s creative use of language and its influence on global English. Many of these terms emerged in the 1970s and 1980s, reflecting Nigeria’s evolving linguistic landscape.
Complete List of Newly Added Nigerian Words:
1. 419
2. abi
3. adire
4. agbero
5. area boy
6. cross-carpet
7. cross-carpeting
8. eba
9. Edo
10. gele
11. jand (noun, verb)
12. janded (adjective)
13. Japa (noun, verb)
14. Kanuri
15. Kobo
16. Naija
17. suya
18. Yahoo
19. yahoo boy
20. yarn dust
This inclusion further cements Nigeria’s unique contribution to the English language, with at least 57 Nigerian-origin words now featured in the OED. Through these updates, the OED continues to reflect the dynamic and evolving nature of the English language.
