By Abigail Philip David
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has enriched its vocabulary by adding 20 Nigerian words and expressions in its latest update.
These new entries, which include terms like japa, agbero, eba, 419, and abi, reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of Nigeria. They highlight the growing global influence of Pidgin English, street slang, and unique Nigerian expressions.
Some of the words, such as *japa* and *jand*, are listed as both nouns and verbs, while pronunciation guides have been provided to help non-Nigerians correctly articulate them.
Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian English consultant for the OED, shared the news on LinkedIn, expressing his excitement about contributing to the project. He played a key role in drafting the words and recording their pronunciations.
Ugwuanyi wrote:
> “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.
> This time, I not only drafted most of the words but also had the incredible opportunity to provide their pronunciations! So, when you explore the OED online and click on the pronunciations, you’ll hear my voice bringing these words to life.”
Notable Definitions
– Japa: The emigration of Nigerians to other countries, especially in search of education, employment, or better economic opportunities.
– Agbero: A tout, usually working at car parks or bus stops, who collects money from passengers and drivers and ushers passengers onto vehicles.
– 419: Fraud involving advance payment scams, often carried out via the internet. Examples include “419 emails” or “419 scams.”
Full List of Words Added:
1. 419
2. Abi
3. Adire
4. Area boy
5. Cross-carpet
6. Cross-carpeting
7. Eba
8. Edo
9. Gele
10. Jand (noun, verb)
11. Janded (adjective)
12. Japa (noun, verb)
13. Kanuri
14. Kobo
15. Naija
16. Suya
17. Yahoo
18. Yahoo boy
19. Yarn
20. Yarn dust
This milestone highlights the global recognition of Nigerian English and its unique contributions to the world of language.
