The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has officially integrated several Nigerian and West African expressions into its latest global lexicon update.
This expansion includes a variety of terms rooted in local cuisine, music, and daily social interactions, reflecting the significant impact of African culture on the evolution of the English language.
Among the notable additions are the interjection “abeg” and the popular musical genre “Afrobeats.”
Okay News reports that the dictionary also formally defined Nigerian food staples such as “amala” and “moi moi,” alongside widely used slang like “nyash.”
These entries were part of a larger quarterly review that introduced over 500 new words and phrases. To assist international speakers, the OED has updated its pronunciation models to include specific audio transcriptions for West African English.
This development follows a previous trend in early 2025 when terms like “japa,” “agbero,” and “suya” were first recognized. By including these words, the OED acknowledges the vibrant and distinctive ways in which English is spoken across the continent. The update serves as a milestone for linguistic inclusion, documenting how Nigerian street language and pop culture have achieved global validation.
