Nigerian Terms Japa, Eba, Agbero, and More Added to Oxford Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has included a fresh set of Nigerian expressions, offering a chance for the global audience to explore the country’s vibrant cultural heritage.
These newly added words reflect the daily experiences of the typical Nigerian, capturing the dynamic street language and Pidgin English, which are becoming increasingly accepted across Africa and beyond.
The new entries also celebrate Nigeria’s ethnic diversity and demographics, showcasing terms from various cultures. Some of the words added include “Japa,” “419,” “agbero,” “abi,” “area boy,” “yahoo boy,” “yahoo,” “Edo,” “Kanuri,” “jand,” “cross-carpet,” “kobo,” “naija,” and “suya.”
A number of these terms appear in both noun and verb forms. For example, OED lists “japa” as both a noun and a verb. “Jand” is also represented as both a noun and verb. This update also includes pronunciation guides to assist non-Nigerians interested in learning these words.
Dr. Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a consultant for OED who provides vocal assistance, shared with The Guardian that the dictionary editors used corpora to identify words that are widely and frequently used across Nigeria.
He explained, “So, the criteria include frequency, widespread use, age (generally words that have been in use for zero to 10 years) and the social significance of the words.”
On LinkedIn, Ugwuanyi announced the list, stating, “This time, I not only drafted most of the words but also had the incredible opportunity to provide their pronunciations. So, when you explore the OED online and click on the pronunciations, you will hear my voice bringing these words to life.” In 2020, the OED added 29 Nigerian-specific words, including “danfo,” “okada,” “next tomorrow,” and “mama put.”
