The Oxford English Dictionary has added 22 Nigerian words, such as "419," "Agbero," "Japa," and "Eba," recognizing the cultural and linguistic influence of Nigeria. Dr. Kingsley Ugwuanyi played a key role in drafting and pronouncing these words, marking a historic moment for Nigerian English on a global stage.
In a move celebrating Nigeria's linguistic diversity, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has expanded its catalog by including 22 Nigerian words. Dr. Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a consultant on Nigerian English for the OED, shared the news on LinkedIn, expressing pride in the achievement. He described the addition as a testament to Nigeria’s vibrant culture and the growing recognition of its linguistic contributions. “These words reflect how Nigerians uniquely express themselves, and I’m delighted to see them recognized on this scale,” Dr. Ugwuanyi said.
Dr. Ugwuanyi, who contributed to drafting many of the words and their pronunciations, noted his joy in hearing his voice used for pronunciations on the OED platform. He praised the OED team for their collaboration and hard work, singling out Danica Salazar, the World Englishes editor, for her support.
The terms added highlight various aspects of Nigerian life, ranging from cuisine and clothing to slang and socio-political terms. Below is the complete list of words now featured in the OED:
- 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