FULL LIST: 20 Nigerian Words, Including ‘Japa,’ ‘Agbero,’ ‘419,’ Added to Oxford English Dictionary

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has expanded its collection by including 20 Nigerian words and expressions in its latest update. This development highlights the growing recognition of Nigeria’s linguistic and cultural contributions on the global stage.

Among the newly added terms are commonly used words like “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” “419,” and “abi,” which are integral to Nigeria’s unique lexicon. These additions reflect the influence of Pidgin English, street slang, and the rich cultural tapestry of the country. Some terms, such as “japa” and “jand,” have been recognized as both nouns and verbs, emphasizing their versatility in everyday conversations.

To ensure accurate pronunciation for non-Nigerians, the dictionary update includes pronunciation guides. Notably, Kingsley Ugwuanyi, a Nigerian English consultant for the OED, played a significant role in this update. Sharing the news on LinkedIn, he expressed pride in his contributions, particularly in drafting definitions and providing pronunciation guides. “This time, I not only drafted most of the words but also had the incredible opportunity to provide their pronunciations. So, when you explore the OED online and click on the pronunciations, you’ll hear my voice bringing these words to life,” he said.

For instance, “japa” is defined as “the emigration of Nigerians to other countries, especially those in Europe or North America, in search of further education, employment, or economic opportunity.” Similarly, “agbero” is described as “a person (usually a boy or young man) who works as a tout, typically at car parks and bus stops, collecting money from passengers and drivers, and ushering passengers onto vehicles.”

Other terms, like “yahoo,” reflect internet fraud schemes and are often used in reduplicated forms such as “yahoo yahoo.”

Here is the full list of newly added words:

419

Abi

Adire

Agbero

Area boy

Cross-carpet

Cross-carpeting

Eba

Edo

Gele

Jand (noun, verb)

Janded (adjective)

Japa (noun, verb)

Kanuri

Kobo

Naija

Suya

Yahoo

Yahoo boy

Yarn Dust