28/04/2025
The Oxford English Dictionary recently added 20 new Nigerian words and expressions to its lexicon. Some of these words include:
1. "Abi": A rhetorical question marker used to express surprise or disbelief.
2. "Adire": A type of textile cloth produced and worn primarily by the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria.
3. "Edo": An ethnic group of people who speak the Edo language in Nigeria, mainly in Edo State.
4. "Naija": A colloquial term for Nigeria.
5. "Suya": A spicy skewered meat that is a popular food item in West Africa.
6. "Kannywood": A term used to describe the Nigerian Hausa film industry, named after Kano, a major city in northern Nigeria.
7. "Rubbing minds": A Nigerian English phrase that means to share ideas or have a discussion with someone.
8. "Jand": A Nigerian slang term that means to be confused, surprised, or flustered.
9. "Japa": A Nigerian slang term that means to escape or leave a place quickly.
10. "Agbero": A Nigerian word for a tout or an area boy, often used to describe a young man who engages in street thuggery or extortion.
11. "Danfo": A type of yellow minibus used for public transportation in Nigeria, especially in Lagos.
12. "Agbada": A wide-sleeved robe worn by men in Nigeria, especially in Yoruba culture.
13. "Efiko": A Nigerian pidgin word that means "quickly" or "right away."
14. "Ashewo": A Nigerian slang term for a pr******te or a promiscuous woman.
15. "Sha": A Nigerian slang term used at the end of a sentence to emphasize certainty or insistence, similar to "definitely" or "really" in English.
Others include: yarn dust, area boy, yahoo boy, cross- carpet and gele.
These additions to the OED reflect the dynamic and evolving nature of Nigerian English, as well as its influence on English language usage both within Nigeria and beyond its borders.
Happy learning!
