The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added several Nigerian-origin words and expressions in its latest update, reflecting the growing global influence of Nigerian language, culture and cuisine.
The December 2025 update, released on the OED website on Wednesday, introduced more than 500 new words, phrases and meanings, while over 1,000 existing entries were revised. Editors also revisited the histories of familiar words such as “troll,” “coffee” and “snooker.”
According to the OED, the update draws from English varieties spoken around the world, including West African, Maltese, Japanese and South Korean English, underscoring the increasing global impact of these linguistic traditions.
Among the Nigerian entries are widely used expressions and cultural references such as “abeg,” “biko,” “nyash,” “mammy market” and “Ghana Must Go,” alongside popular food items including “amala” and “moi moi.”
The dictionary defines “abeg” as an interjection used to convey emotions ranging from surprise to exasperation, while “biko,” borrowed from the Igbo language, is described as a polite form of request or emphasis, similar to “please.”
“Nyash” is defined as referring to a person’s buttocks, while “mammy market” is described as a market typically run by women, originally located in military barracks and later found in institutions such as schools and youth service camps.
The term “Ghana Must Go” was also added, referring to the large chequered plastic bags commonly used across West Africa. The expression traces its origin to the 1983 expulsion of undocumented Ghanaian migrants from Nigeria.
In the area of cuisine, the OED recognised “amala,” a dough-like staple made from yam, cassava or plantain flour, and “moi moi,” a steamed bean pudding originating among the Yoruba people.
The update also included “Afrobeats,” defined as a genre of popular music that blends West African sounds with elements of jazz, soul and funk.
The latest additions build on earlier updates. In January 2025, the OED incorporated about 20 Nigerian words and expressions, including “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” “419” and “abi,” further highlighting the growing influence of Nigerian English, Pidgin and street slang on global vocabulary.
