PENTALK reports that the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has expanded its lexicon with 20 Nigerian words and expressions, further recognizing the global influence of Nigerian culture and language.
The new additions include widely used terms such as “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” “419,” and “abi,” which reflect the vibrancy of Pidgin English, street slang, and cultural expressions in Nigeria. Notably, words like “japa” and “jand” are listed both as nouns and verbs in the dictionary. Pronunciation guides have also been included to help non-Nigerians articulate the words correctly.
Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian English consultant to the OED, announced the update on LinkedIn on Tuesday. Expressing his excitement, he shared his involvement in drafting the entries and recording their pronunciations.
“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,” Ugwuanyi wrote.
Among the new entries, “japa” is defined as “the emigration of Nigerians to other countries (especially those in Europe or North America) in search of further education, employment, or economic opportunity.”
“Agbero” is described as “a person (usually a boy or young man) who works as a tout, typically at car parks and bus stops, collecting money from passengers and drivers, and ushering passengers onto vehicles.”
The term “419,” synonymous with fraudulent activities in Nigeria, is defined as “Fraud (now usually perpetrated on the internet) involving requests for advance payment in return for a substantial share of a large amount of money, which ultimately is never given.”
The full list of newly added Nigerian words includes:
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 update underscores the growing recognition of Nigerian English as a significant contributor to global linguistic diversity.
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