Twenty Nigerian words and expressions have been officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) in its latest update, showcasing the global influence of Nigerian English.
Popular terms like “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” “419,” and “abi” are among the newly included entries, reflecting the rich tapestry of Nigerian Pidgin, street slang, and cultural expressions. These additions highlight the dynamic nature of the language and its growing international recognition.
Notably, words such as “japa” and “jand” are featured as both nouns and verbs, with pronunciation guides provided to help non-Nigerians articulate them correctly.
The announcement was made by Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian English consultant for the OED, who shared his excitement on LinkedIn. “I’m thrilled to announce the latest OED updates, featuring a remarkable collection of Nigerian English words that celebrate our culture, creativity, and unique expressions,” he wrote. Ugwuanyi also contributed to drafting the entries and recording their pronunciations.
One of the standout additions, “japa,” is defined as “the emigration of Nigerians to other countries (especially in Europe or North America) in search of further education, employment, or economic opportunities.”
“Agbero” is described as “a person, usually a young man, who works as a tout at car parks and bus stops, collecting money from passengers and drivers and ushering passengers onto vehicles.”
The term “419,” a familiar concept in Nigeria, refers to “fraud, often conducted online, involving requests for advance payments in exchange for a share of a promised large sum of money, which is never delivered.”
Here is the full list of Nigerian words added to the OED:
- 419
- abi
- adire
- agbero
- area boy
- cross-carpet
- cross-carpeting
- eba
- Edo
- gele
- jand (noun, verb)
- janded (adjective)
- Japa (noun, verb)
- Kanuri
- Kobo
- Naija
- suya
- Yahoo yahoo boy
- Yarn Dust
This milestone underscores the growing recognition of Nigerian English as a significant linguistic and cultural force on the global stage.
