Oxford dictionary expands with Nigerian slang, food names
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added several Nigerian words and expressions to its latest update, highlighting the growing global influence of Nigerian language, culture and cuisine.
Among the newly recognised entries are popular words such as “nyash,” “mammy market,” and “amala,” alongside other widely used Nigerian expressions including “abeg,” “biko,” “moi moi,” “Ghana Must Go,” and “Afrobeats.”
The update, released in December 2025, introduced more than 500 new words and meanings from different varieties of English spoken around the world, with a strong representation from West African English. Editors of the dictionary said the additions reflect how everyday language from the region continues to shape global English usage.
READ ALSO: 20 Nigerian words added to Oxford Dictionary
In its definitions, the OED describes “nyash” as a colloquial term referring to a person’s buttocks, “mammy market” as a market typically run by women, originally found in military barracks and later in NYSC camps and schools, and “amala” as a staple Nigerian dish made from yam, cassava or plantain flour.
Other Nigerian food items such as “moi moi” were also included, while expressions like “abeg” and “biko” were defined as polite interjections used to make requests or add emphasis.
The OED noted that the new entries demonstrate the rising global recognition of Nigerian English, Pidgin, and indigenous languages, following earlier updates that added terms such as japa, agbero and eba.
READ ALSO: List: ‘Japa, Agbero, Suya’, other Nigerian words added to Oxford Dictionary
The latest inclusion has been widely celebrated by Nigerians, who see it as further acknowledgement of the country’s cultural and linguistic impact on the world stage.
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