The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has recently expanded its lexicon to incorporate a fresh collection of Nigerian terms.
These new additions capture the essence of daily life for the average Nigerian, showcasing vibrant street expressions and Pidgin English, which are increasingly embraced throughout Africa and beyond.
The entries not only represent various ethnic groups and demographics but also celebrate Nigeria’s rich cultural tapestry.
Some of the new words function as both nouns and verbs. For example, “japa” is recognized in both forms, while “jand” also appears as a noun and verb. Additionally, this update includes pronunciations to assist non-Nigerians interested in learning these terms.
Dr. Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a consultant for OED who lends his voice to the project, shared the news on LinkedIn on Tuesday, January 7.
He explained that OED editors utilized corpora to identify words that are widely and frequently used across Nigeria.
“The selection criteria included frequency, widespread usage, age (typically words that have emerged in the last decade), and the social relevance of the terms,” he noted.
Ugwuanyi mentioned on LinkedIn: “This time, I not only contributed to the majority of the words but also had the unique chance to provide their pronunciations. So, when you explore the OED online and click on the pronunciations, you will hear my voice bringing these words to life.”
In 2020, OED included 29 Nigerian-specific entries, such as “danfo,” “okada,” “next tomorrow,” and “mama put.”
Here are the new words added in 2025:
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)
12. Jand (verb)
13. Janded
14. Japa (noun)
15. Japa (verb)
16. Kanuri
17. Kobo
18. Naija
19. Suya
20. Yahoo
21. Yahoo Boy
22. Yarn Dust
