The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has officially incorporated more than 20 new words and expressions from West Africa, including several popular Nigerian terms, in its latest quarterly update released in December 2025 and effective for 2026.
The additions highlight the growing global influence of West African English, Pidgin, and cultural expressions on the English language. Out of 279 new entries in the update, over 20 originate from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Togo.
Nigerian words now recognised include:
Abeg (interjection/adverb expressing surprise, exasperation, or plea)
Afrobeats (style of popular music blending West African elements with jazz, soul, and funk)
Amala (Yoruba dish made from yam flour)
Biko (Igbo-origin plea meaning “please” or expressing emphasis)
Ghana Must Go (large chequered plastic bag, referencing historical migration)
Mammy Market (informal market, originally in military barracks)
Moi Moi (steamed bean pudding)
Nyash (slang for buttocks)
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Other West African additions include:
Abrokyire (Ghanaian term for abroad/overseas)
Adowa (traditional Akan dance)
Ampesi (Ghanaian boiled yam/plantain dish)
Benachin (one-pot rice dish)
Bichir (fish species, also culinary term)
Domoda (Gambian peanut stew)
Dumboy (Liberian cassava dish)
Hiplife (Ghanaian music genre)
Kpanlogo (Ghanaian dance/music)
Light soup (Ghanaian spicy broth)
Nawetan (Sierra Leonean term)
Obroni (Ghanaian for foreigner/white person)
Poda-poda (Sierra Leonean minibus)
Yassa (Senegalese marinated dish)
The OED noted that many terms are versatile, functioning as nouns, verbs, or interjections. This update builds on previous inclusions, such as Nigerian words like “japa,” “419,” and “suya” added in 2025.
Linguists and cultural commentators have hailed the move as a milestone for African linguistic contributions to global English.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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