Felicia Udeji, Reporting
In a major recognition of Nigerian English, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has included 20 Nigerian words and expressions in its latest update.
This move highlights the growing global influence of Pidgin English, street slang, and cultural expressions deeply rooted in everyday Nigerian life.
Popular terms like “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” “419,” and “abi” are now officially part of the OED, alongside other entries such as “gele,” “suya,” “yarn dust,” and “Naija.”
Each word comes with a definition and pronunciation guide to help non-Nigerians articulate them correctly.
“Japa,” for instance, is defined as “the emigration of Nigerians to other countries in search of further education, employment, or economic opportunity.”
“Agbero” refers to a tout, typically at car parks and bus stops, collecting money from passengers and drivers and ushering passengers onto vehicles.”
Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian English consultant for the OED, shared the exciting news on LinkedIn, noting his role in drafting most of the words and recording their pronunciations.
“This update beautifully reflects Nigeria’s culture, creativity, and the unique ways we express ourselves,” he wrote.
Here is the full list of the newly added Nigerian words:
1. Abi
2. Adire
3. Agbero
4. Area boy
5. Cross-carpet
6. Cross-carpeting
7. Eba
8. Edo
9. Gele
10. Japa
11. Jand
12. Janded
13. Kanuri
14. Kobo
15. Naija
16. Suya
17. Yahoo
18. Yahoo boy
19. Yarn dust
20. 419
This recognition is a significant milestone for Nigerian English, further cementing its place in global conversations.
With words like “Naija” and “yarn dust” now recognized internationally, it’s clear that Nigeria’s linguistic creativity is making waves on the world stage.