By Fumilayo Bayo
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added 20 more words, all of which are Nigerian, to its lexicon in the latest update.
The newly included words, such as japa, eba, area boy, gele, and suya, reflect Nigeria’s cultural creativity, richness, and linguistic diversity. These words originate from Nigerian Pidgin, street slang, and everyday Nigerian life. They reveal the influence of the nation’s elegant culture on the English language.
Some words, like japa and jand, appear as both nouns and verbs, with pronunciation guides and examples provided to assist non-Nigerians. Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian consultant to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), announced the update on LinkedIn. He also expressed his excitement about drafting the words and recording their pronunciations.
The 20 Nigerian words added to the latest Oxford English Dictionary include:
419, abi, adire, agbero, area boy , cross carpet, cross carpeting , eba, Edo, gele, jand (noun, verb), janded (adjective), japa (noun, verb), Kanuri, kobo, Naija, suya, yahoo yahoo boy and yarn dust.
Meaning of the Words Agbero: A tout at car parks or bus stops, assisting passengers and collecting money. 419: A fraud, typically an internet scam involving false promises of monetary rewards. Japa: The emigration of Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad. These additions showcases the richness of Nigerian culture and its growing impact on the global stage.