The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added 20 Nigerian words and expressions in its latest update, showcasing the influence of Nigerian Pidgin English, street slang, and cultural expressions on global language. Popular terms like “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” “419,” and “abi” have made their way into the lexicon, reflecting the distinct linguistic and cultural features of Nigeria.
Among the notable additions, “japa” is defined as the act of emigrating, typically in search of education or employment opportunities, particularly to countries in Europe or North America. “Agbero” refers to a young man who works as a tout, often at car parks or bus stops, collecting money and directing passengers. The term “419” is used to describe fraud, particularly online scams involving requests for advance payment, commonly associated with Nigerian fraud schemes.
Some words, such as “japa” and “jand,” have been included as both nouns and verbs. The dictionary also provides pronunciation guides to help non-Nigerians articulate the words correctly. Nigerian English consultant Kingsley Ugwuanyi, who contributed to the update, shared his excitement on LinkedIn, mentioning that he not only drafted most of the words but also recorded their pronunciations for the dictionary.
Other entries include “abi,” “adire” (batik), “area boy” (lout), “cross-carpet,” “cross-carpeting,” “eba,” “Edo,” “gele” (headgear), “janded” (adjective), “Kanuri,” “Kobo,” “Naija,” “suya,” “Yahoo boy,” and “Yarn Dust.”
