By Naomi Jeremiah

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has published a new update featuring a wide range of Nigerian English words, further recognizing Nigeria’s cultural influence and linguistic creativity on the global stage.

The update was announced by Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian English consultant to the OED, who shared the news on his LinkedIn page. Ugwuanyi revealed that he drafted most of the newly added entries and also provided their official pronunciations.

“This time, I not only drafted most of the words but also had the opportunity to provide their pronunciations,” Ugwuanyi said. “When you explore the OED online and click on the pronunciations, you’ll hear my voice bringing these words to life.”

The newly added words reflect everyday Nigerian expressions, food, fashion, politics, migration, and youth culture. They include “japa” (noun and verb), “jand,” “janded,” “Naija,” “suya,” “gele,” “agbero,” “area boy,” “yahoo boy,” “abi,” “eba,” “adire,” “kobo,” “419,” and “yarn dust,” among others.

The inclusion of these terms highlights how Nigerian English continues to shape global language, capturing social realities, humour, and evolving cultural identities.

Ugwuanyi also acknowledged the contribution of the OED editorial team, giving special recognition to Danica Salazar, the World Englishes editor, and the wider Oxford Languages team, describing the achievement as the product of years of collaboration and research.

The Oxford English Dictionary regularly updates its entries to reflect how English is used around the world, drawing from regional and cultural contexts. The latest update underscores Nigeria’s growing impact on global English and affirms the country’s place in shaping contemporary language.