By Emmanuel Nduka
The Oxford English Dictionary has officially added 20 Nigerian words to its latest update, including popular slang like “Yahoo boy,” “japa,” “suya,” “agbero,” and “419.” These words, rich in Nigerian culture and everyday language, reflect the creativity and vibrancy of the nation’s linguistic landscape.
Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian consultant for the OED, took to social media on Tuesday to share his excitement. He proudly revealed that not only did he contribute to the creation of most of the entries, but he also voiced their pronunciations for the dictionary’s online platform.
Among the newly added terms is “419,” which refers to fraud, and “Yahoo boy,” a person involved in internet-based fraud. Other additions include “adire,” “abi,” “eba,” “Edo,” and “jand,” used to describe a range of cultural and linguistic phenomena. The word “japa,” which describes the act of emigrating in search of better opportunities, also made the list.
The new entries showcase Nigeria’s diverse culture and the widespread influence of its language across the globe.
