Wednesday, February 19

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has officially added 20 Nigerian words and slang terms to its ever-growing collection of global language, reflecting the rich cultural expressions of Nigeria. Some of the newly added words include “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” “419,” and “abi,” among others, all of which have become central to everyday conversations across Nigeria.

These words, rooted in Pidgin English, street slang, and Nigerian cultural expressions, are becoming increasingly recognized around the world. What’s particularly exciting is that some of the terms, like “Japa” and “Jand,” have been included as both nouns and verbs. The dictionary even includes pronunciation guides to help non-Nigerians pronounce the words correctly.

Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian English consultant for the Oxford English Dictionary, shared the update on LinkedIn, expressing his excitement about contributing to the dictionary’s expansion. He said, “I’m thrilled to announce that the Oxford English Dictionary has published its latest update, featuring Nigerian words that beautifully showcase the culture, creativity, and unique expressions of Nigeria. Not only did I draft most of these words, but I also had the privilege of recording their pronunciations! So, when you explore the OED online and click on the pronunciation, you’ll hear my voice bringing these words to life.”

Here’s the full list of the newly added Nigerian words:

  • 419

  • Abi

  • Adire

  • Agbero

  • Area boy

  • Cross-carpet

  • Cross-carpeting

  • Eba

  • Edo

  • Gele

  • Jand (noun & verb)

  • Janded

  • Japa (noun & verb)

  • Kanuri

  • Kobo

  • Naija

  • Suya

  • Yahoo

  • Yahoo boy

  • Yarn dust

These words mark an important moment for Nigerian culture and language, showing how local expressions are becoming an integral part of global language.

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