In a moment that has captured attention from linguists, writers, students, and culture enthusiasts across Nigeria, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has expanded its lexicon with 24 new Nigerian words. This update acknowledges how deeply Nigerian expressions, phrases, and cultural terms have shaped modern English usage both at home and abroad. It is a milestone in the recognition of Nigerian English on the global stage.
For decades, Nigerian English has been distinct for its blend of local languages, Pidgin expressions, pop culture vocabulary, and inventive everyday speech. With this recent update, the OED has embraced that diverse linguistic landscape by including expressions that Nigerians use daily in conversation, online, and in creative writing. These words now sit alongside long-established English entries, illustrating how language evolves in response to real-world usage and social change.
Below is a curated examination of this development, illustrating what it means for Nigerian culture, English usage, and the broader conversation about language and identity.
Table of Contents
Words That Carry Culture and Everyday Life
Among the latest additions are terms that are deeply rooted in Nigerian society and daily experience. The OED’s decision to include these words is a nod to their widespread usage and cultural significance.
Abeg is one of the most recognisable new entries. Used across Nigeria in casual speech to mean please, it conveys politeness, desperation, or emphasis depending on the tone. This term has spread widely in digital communications and spoken interactions, showing how expressive it has become.
Another notable inclusion is Biko, borrowed from Igbo and meaning please, I beg you, or expressing surprise or disbelief. This term appears frequently in conversations, both serious and playful, and its adoption into the OED reflects how Nigerian indigenous expressions enrich English.
Nyash has also found official recognition. Originally slang referring to the buttocks, the word has gained popularity through music, social media, and everyday usage, especially when describing body language or movement in dance. Its inclusion shows how contemporary culture influences language.
Ghana Must Go is an expression with historical weight. Beyond being a memorable phrase, it refers to a type of large, checkered travel bag widely used across West Africa and symbolises an era of migration and shared regional experience. Its presence in the dictionary highlights shared histories and cross-border influences.
The term Mammy Market refers to community-style markets often established by women, originally in military barracks but later expanding to other communal spaces. Its inclusion underlines unique cultural institutions that are central to Nigerian social life.
Moi Moi, a beloved steamed bean pudding, now has a place in the world’s foremost English dictionary. Food terms often transcend borders and this one stands as a testament to how cuisine becomes language.
Other additions span names of music genres, fashion terms, sociopolitical phrases, and everyday slang that reflect Nigeria’s dynamic cultural conversation. Across official announcements and media commentary, language experts have highlighted how these terms showcase everyday life more vividly than many traditional English words.
Why These Words Matter
Language is never static. It grows and changes as the people who speak it innovate, borrow, adapt, and recontextualise words to fit new realities. Nigerian English is one of the widest and most dynamic varieties of English in the world today. Its rhythms, idioms, and creative usage reflect centuries of cultural exchange, colonial history, indigenous languages, and modern global influences, including music, film, and social media.
The addition of Nigerian words to the Oxford English Dictionary is not merely symbolic. It reflects a growing recognition that regional varieties of English have shaped the global linguistic landscape. Across Africa, in diasporic communities, and in international media, expressions that began as local slang are now widely understood far beyond their original borders. This dictionary update signals that English is not monolithic but plural, living, and deeply influenced by global voices.
Linguists and cultural commentators say that including Nigerian English in prestigious linguistic institutions validates the lived experiences of speakers whose voices were historically underrepresented in academic dictionaries. It also encourages language learners, writers, and educators to take Nigerian expressions seriously as part of English’s ongoing evolution.
Reflections from Language Experts
Experts who study Nigerian English note that the OED update follows years of scholarship on how Nigerians shape meaning. Research shows that Nigerian Pidgin and regional expressions play a central role in communication, media, and literature. These forms of English often capture nuances that traditional British or American dictionaries overlook.
Language consultants involved in the update have highlighted the criteria used to select new words. These include the frequency of use across diverse contexts, cultural relevance, and whether a term has sustained presence in written and spoken communication. Words added to the OED now have documented usage examples that trace how Nigerian speakers use them organically.
Some entries function as both nouns and verbs, expanding their usefulness in the language. For example, previously added Nigerian words like japa and jand were recognised in more than one grammatical category, capturing their versatility in everyday speech. This same dynamic applies to several of the latest words included.
Looking Ahead
The inclusion of 24 Nigerian words in the Oxford English Dictionary marks a fresh chapter in how English adapts to global voices. It resonates especially with young Nigerians who see their language reflected in digital culture, music, literature, and everyday conversation. This milestone encourages broader documentation and appreciation of linguistic diversity across the world.
For Nigerian speakers, this is a moment of pride. Words that once lived primarily on street corners, in music lyrics, and in family conversations are now preserved in one of the most respected language authorities in the world. This recognition affirms the creativity and adaptability of Nigerian English and reminds us that language belongs to its speakers wherever they are.
As dictionaries continue to evolve, so too will the representation of Nigerian voices. This update is likely just the beginning of even more Nigerian expressions becoming recognised globally. For linguists and cultural observers, it offers a reason to continue exploring how everyday language enriches global communication.
If you are curious about exploring these words further, many dictionary platforms now feature audio pronunciations and examples that help capture the full flavour of how these expressions are used in real conversations around Nigeria and beyond.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
