Twenty uniquely Nigerian words and expressions have officially been added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), showcasing the influence of Nigerian culture and language on the global stage.
Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian English consultant for the OED, shared the news on his LinkedIn page, expressing excitement about the milestone. “I’m thrilled to announce that the Oxford English Dictionary has published its latest updates, featuring an amazing collection of Nigerian English words that beautifully reflect Nigeria’s culture, creativity, and the unique ways we express ourselves as Nigerians,” he wrote.
Ugwuanyi played a key role in drafting the definitions, hashtags, and pronunciation guides for many of the entries, ensuring non-Nigerian speakers can correctly articulate them.
The newly added words include:
419 – a term for fraud or scam, derived from a section of Nigeria's criminal code.
Abi – a common Nigerian Pidgin English tag used to affirm or seek confirmation.
Adire – a traditional Nigerian tie-dye fabric.
Agbero – a bus conductor or street tout.
Area boy – a street thug or gangster.
Cross-carpet and cross-carpeting – switching political parties.
Eba – a staple food made from cassava.
Edo – referring to the Edo people or language.
Gele – a traditional Nigerian headwrap.
Jand (noun, verb) and Janded (adjective) – terms referring to living in or traveling to the UK.
Japa (noun, verb) – to flee or emigrate, often in search of better opportunities.
Kanuri – a Nigerian ethnic group or language.
Kobo – a fractional unit of the Nigerian currency.
Naija – a colloquial term for Nigeria.
Suya – a popular spicy grilled meat.
Yahoo and Yahoo boy – terms related to internet fraudsters.
Yarn Dust – to speak nonsense or boast.
The inclusion of these words highlights Nigeria’s rich linguistic heritage and its growing impact on global English usage.
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