Jessica Osajie / Posted January 9, 2025
World’s leading linguistic reference bookshop, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has officially recognized 21 new Nigerian words and expressions in its latest update, spotlighting Nigeria’s linguistic influence on the global stage.
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Among the entries are terms such as “japa” (a slang term for leaving or escaping, often in pursuit of better opportunities), “gele” (a traditional headwrap commonly worn by Nigerian women), “suya” (spicy grilled meat skewers popular as a street food), and “419” (a colloquial reference to fraud, based on the Nigerian penal code section dealing with advance-fee scams).
These additions underscore the richness of Nigeria’s linguistic diversity, drawing from Pidgin English, indigenous languages, lingos and urban street slang. The recognition also highlights the evolving use of language within Nigeria’s vibrant cultural contexts.
Dr. Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian linguist who played a pivotal role in this achievement, expressed his pride in the accomplishment through a LinkedIn post. As a consultant for the OED, he contributed to defining many of the words and provided audio pronunciations to ensure proper intonation for non-Nigerian speakers.
“So, when you explore the OED online and click on the pronunciations, you will hear my voice bringing these words to life,” Ugwuanyi said. He also highlighted that the selection process was data-driven, with OED editors relying on corpora to identify frequently used and socially significant words in Nigeria.
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The new additions span a variety of themes, reflecting Nigeria’s unique socio-political landscape, ethnic identities, and culinary culture. Words like 419 (a reference to Nigeria’s criminal code for fraud) and yahoo boy (a term for an internet scammer) highlight societal challenges, while gele (a traditional head tie), adire (tie-dyed fabric), and suya (spiced grilled meat) celebrate cultural traditions.
Notably, some words, such as japa (to flee or escape) and jand (a colloquial term for the UK), are listed in both noun and verb forms, underscoring their versatility in everyday speech.
This is not the first time the OED has embraced Nigerian English. In 2020, it added 29 terms, including Okada (motorcycle taxi), danfo (yellow minibuses common in Lagos), and mama put (a roadside food vendor).
The full list of OED entries of Nigerian words are:
419
Abi
Adire
Agbero
Area Boy
Cross-carpet / Cross-carpeting
Eba
Edo
Gele
Jand (noun)
Jand (verb)
Janded
Japa (noun)
Japa (verb)
Kanuri
Kobo
Naija
Suya
Yahoo
Yahoo Boy
Yarn Dust
This milestone demonstrates the increasing global embrace of Nigeria’s unique multi-cultural lingos and linguistic contributions, further solidifying its place on the international stage.
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NOTE: Jessica is on Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) at DDNEWSONLINE.COM from the Department of Mass Communication, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).