The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has officially added 20 new Nigerian words to its latest update, showcasing the country’s rich cultural diversity and contributions to global English.
Here’s the full list:-
1. 419: a term for internet scams, especially those asking for money upfront.
2. Abi: a versatile word that can be used as a question tag or to show surprise
3. Adire: a type of tie-dye textile
4. Agbero: a young person who works at bus stops collecting money from passengers and drivers
5. Area Boy: a term for a young man who hangs out in a particular area, also called agbèrò
6. Cross-carpet: to switch political parties
7. Cross-carpeting: the act of switching political parties
8. Ẹ̀bà: a type of starchy food made from cassava flour
9. Edo: a state in southern Nigeria
10. Gèlè: a type of headscarf
11. Jand (noun, verb): a term for the UK, or to travel to the UK (London; Jandon; Jand)
12. Janded (adjective): a term for someone who has traveled to the UK or forms like one who has ‘been to’ the UK
13. Jápa (noun, verb): to travel abroad, especially for better opportunities. Escape.
14. Kanuri: an ethnic group from northeastern Nigeria
15. Kọ́bọ̀: a unit of Nigerian currency
16. Nàìjá: a colloquial term for Nigeria
17. Suya: a popular Nigerian snack made from grilled meat
18. Yahoo–Yahoo: a term for internet scams or scammers
19. Yahoo Boy: a person who engages in internet scams
20. Yarn Dust: talking gibberish
These additions reflect Nigeria’s unique cultural identity and its significant contributions to global English. Linguist Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian English consultant to the OED, played a key role in this update, drafting most of the words and providing their pronunciations.
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