The Oxford English Dictionary has added 20 Nigerian words, including Japa, 419, agbero, and Naija, reflecting the cultural richness and global influence of Nigerian English and Pidginy.
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has officially added 20 Nigerian words and expressions to its latest update, showcasing the rich cultural diversity, creativity, and influence of Nigerian English and Pidgin on global language.
The new entries include commonly used terms like Japa, 419, agbero, abi, area boy, yahoo boy, eba, suya, and Naija, among others. These words reflect various aspects of Nigerian daily life, street culture, and identity.
This update builds on previous milestones, such as the inclusion of 29 Nigerian words in 2020, and highlights Nigeria’s significant contributions to global English.
Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian English consultant for the OED, played a pivotal role in drafting most of the new entries and providing their pronunciations. Announcing the update on LinkedIn, he said:
“This milestone reflects Nigeria’s culture, creativity, and unique ways of expression. I encourage Nigerians to share their favorite words and suggest new ones for future updates.”
The dictionary describes Nigerian Pidgin as a “rich source of new words” and credits the country’s contributions, particularly borrowings and coinages from the 1970s and 1980s, for enriching the English language.
Newly Added Nigerian Words (2024 Update):
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
The OED’s quarterly updates aim to keep the dictionary reflective of the evolving nature of English worldwide, with Nigerian English continuing to gain prominence.
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