By Charles Maduka
The Oxford English Dictionary has added several words of Nigerian origin in its latest update, highlighting the growing global influence of Nigeria’s language, culture and food.
The December 2025 update, published on the dictionary’s website, introduced more than 500 new words, phrases and meanings, while over 1,000 existing entries were revised. The update also reflects English usage from different parts of the world, including West Africa, Asia and Europe.
Among the Nigerian words added are common expressions and food items such as “nyash,” “mammy market,” “amala,” “moi moi,” “abeg,” “biko,” and “Ghana Must Go.” The dictionary also included “Afrobeats,” describing it as a style of popular music that blends West African sounds with jazz, soul and funk.
The word “abeg” was defined as an interjection used to express emotions like surprise, disbelief or exasperation, while “biko,” which comes from the Igbo language, was described as a polite way to say “please.” “Nyash” was defined as a person’s buttocks, especially referring to a woman.
Other additions include “Ghana Must Go,” the name for the large chequered bags commonly used across West Africa, a term linked to the 1983 expulsion of undocumented Ghanaian migrants from Nigeria. “Mammy market” was recognised as a market traditionally run by women, often found in military barracks and youth service camps.
In the area of food, the dictionary added “amala,” described as a dough made from yam, cassava or plantain flour, and “moi moi,” a steamed dish made from blended beans, peppers and onions. The additions reflect how Nigerian everyday life and culture continue to shape global English usage.
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