The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has officially included 22 Nigerian words and expressions in its latest update, highlighting the growing influence of Nigerian English globally.
Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian English consultant for the OED, shared the exciting news on his LinkedIn, noting that the newly added words reflect the vibrancy of Nigerian culture, language, and social trends. Among the entries are terms such as “japa,” “yahoo boy,” “419,” “adire,” “yarn dust,” and “agbero.”
Ugwuanyi expressed his excitement, sharing that he not only drafted many of the words but also recorded their pronunciations for the online dictionary. He described the inclusion of these words as a testament to the global reach of Nigerian English and its ability to capture contemporary realities alongside traditional heritage.
The OED’s updates regularly capture evolving linguistic trends, ensuring that language reflects global cultural shifts, and this latest addition further cements Nigerian English as a unique and significant variation of the language.
Below is the complete list of the newly added Nigerian words, along with links to their definitions on the OED website:
