The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has been updated to include a new set of Nigerian words in its diction.
The update included 22 Nigerian words which showcase the vibrant creativity and cultural richness of Nigeria’s language.
This was announced on LinkedIn by Dr Kingsley Ugwuanyi, World Englishes/Nigerian English Consultant to the OED who stated that the latest addition reflects the unique ways Nigerians express themselves and the growing influence of Nigerian English on global linguistics.
In his announcement, Dr Ugwuanyi shared his excitement saying, “The wait is over! I’m thrilled to announce that the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has officially published its latest updates, featuring an amazing collection of Nigerian English words that beautifully reflect Nigeria’s culture, creativity, and the unique ways we express ourselves as Nigerians.”
He revealed that he played a significant role in drafting most of the words and providing their pronunciations, adding, “When you explore the OED online and click on the pronunciations, you’ll hear my #voice bringing these words to life.”
The update includes words and expressions familiar to Nigerians, such as 419, Agbero, gele, Japa, eba, and Yahoo boy. These terms span diverse aspects of Nigerian life, from culture and food to slang and socio-political terminologies.
Dr Ugwuanyi also expressed gratitude to Danica Salazar, the World Englishes editor, and the entire OED team, stating, “This milestone is the result of years of #collaboration and hard work, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved together.”
Some of the words include 419, which means fraud, and agbero, used to refer to a young man who works as a tout at car parks and bus stops, collecting money from drivers, and ushering passengers onto vehicles.
The full list of words is available on the OED website, each accompanied by definitions and pronunciations.
Here is the full list of the 22 additions to the OED:
419
Abi
Adire
Agbero
Area Boy
Cross-carpet
Cross-carpeting
Eba
Edo
Gele
Jand (noun)
Jand (verb)
Janded
Japa (noun)
Japa (verb)
Kanuri
Kobo
Naija
Suya
Yahoo
Yahoo Boy
Yarn Dust
The OED in its January 2020 update simlarly added 29 Nigerian words and expressions.
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