The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has expanded its collection by adding a new set of Nigerian words, reflecting the country’s vibrant culture and linguistic diversity. The additions, unveiled yesterday, include popular expressions like japa, 419, agbero, abi, area boy, yahoo boy, yahoo, Edo, Kanuri, jand, cross-carpet, kobo, naija, and suya. These words, commonly used in Nigeria, capture the essence of the country’s daily life, street culture, and the growing influence of Pidgin English across Africa and beyond.

Dr. Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a consultant for OED, explained that the words were selected based on criteria such as frequency of use, social significance, and cultural relevance. “The editors used corpora to identify words that are widely used and have been in existence for up to 10 years,” Ugwuanyi said. The entries include both noun and verb forms for words like japa and jand, accompanied by pronunciations to aid non-Nigerians interested in understanding these expressions.

This is not the first time Nigerian words have been featured in the OED. In 2020, the dictionary added 29 uniquely Nigerian terms such as danfo, okada, next tomorrow, and mama put. Dr. Ugwuanyi, who also provided pronunciations for the new entries, expressed pride in showcasing Nigeria’s linguistic richness to the world, noting that his voice now brings these words to life in the OED’s online platform.