The dynamic growth of English within Nigeria’s multilingual context is reflected in the addition of more than two dozen Nigerian English words to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) in January 2020. Nigeria’s language diversity and cultural subtleties have given rise to distinctive expressions, which are recognised by this inclusion. One of the noteworthy additions is the “danfo,” which refers to a common minibus that is utilised for public transportation, especially in Lagos. A crucial element of Nigerian urban life is captured by this word. Likewise, the term “okada” describes commercial motorbike taxis, which are a prevalent form of transportation in many Nigerian cities.
Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage is highlighted in the OED’s update with culinary terms like “buka,” which refers to a roadside restaurant or street stall selling local dishes, and “moin-moin,” which is a steamed bean pudding made from a mixture of washed and peeled black-eyed beans, onions, and fresh ground peppers. The addition of these words highlights the global impact of Nigerian Culture while also validating the Nigerian dialect of English. It displays the OED’s dedication to chronicling the development of the English Language as it changes to fit various cultural settings. Since it represents an international acknowledgement of Nigeria’s language contributions, this development has been welcomed in Nigeria.
OED added 20 Nigerian expressions to its vocabulary in January 2025.
Nonetheless, there have been difficulties in incorporating Nigerian English into international forums. A study conducted in April 2024 that examined the word “delve’s” usage in PubMed papers from 1990 to 2024 hypothesised that its frequent occurrence might be a sign of content produced by ChatGPT and other AI models. Nigerians strongly disagreed with this claim, claiming that such grammatical characteristics are part of Nigerian English. Large language model datasets that were contracted out to Nigerian labourers who write in this dialect were suggested to be the cause of this finding in subsequent reports.
Given the variety of English dialects, this instance emphasises how difficult it can be to tell the difference between work produced by AI and human authors. In the digital age, it emphasises how crucial it is to comprehend and value linguistic variances in order to prevent misunderstandings. In order to better represent Nigeria’s rich linguistic diversity and cultural legacy, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) added 20 Nigerian words and expressions to its vocabulary in January 2025. One of these additions is “adire,” a name that describes a traditional indigo-dyed Textile from Nigeria.
Some of the entries emphasise the importance of food in Nigerian culture.
Resist dyeing processes that produce complex patterns are what define the fabric. As a representation of Nigeria’s rich textile creativity and legacy, it is especially significant to the Yoruba people. Another noteworthy addition is the Yoruba slang word “japa,” which means to run away or escape swiftly. In Nigerian discourse today, “japa” has come to mean the emigration tendency, particularly among young people looking for better chances outside. The term’s frequent use in conversations about migration and societal goals in Nigeria is shown by its inclusion in the OED.
Additionally, the OED added “agbero,” a slang term for a tout or bus conductor who helps load cars and collect fares and is usually seen at parking lots and bus stops. The informal employment sector, which is essential to Nigeria’s urban transport system, is reflected in this phrase. Other entries emphasise the importance of food in Nigerian culture, such as “eba,” a staple dish made from cassava flour, and “suya,” a well-liked spicy pork skewer. Furthermore, phrases like “419,” which refers to fraudulent activity, and “yahoo boy,” which designates an online scammer, highlight societal problems and the widespread awareness of them.
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These terms’ inclusion in the OED highlights the changing character of language as it develops to accommodate a variety of cultural expressions while also validating Nigerian English. The international recognition of Nigeria’s language contributions and the universal applicability of its colloquialisms has enthusiastically greeted this development. The most recent update from the OED offers evidence of Nigeria’s diverse Cultural Heritage and the language’s enormous influence on English usage worldwide. The dictionary recognises the changing nature of language and the value of cultural inclusion in its documentation by adopting these concepts.