The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added several words of Nigerian origin to its latest update, highlighting the growing global influence of Nigeria’s language, culture and cuisine.
The December 2025 update, published on the OED website, introduced more than 500 new words, phrases and meanings, alongside revisions to over 1,000 existing entries. The update reflects the evolving use of English across different regions of the world, including West African English, Maltese English, Japanese English and South Korean English.
Among the newly recognised Nigerian words are everyday expressions and food items such as “nyash,” “mammy market,” “amala,” “moi moi,” “abeg,” “biko,” and “Ghana Must Go.”
According to the dictionary, “nyash” refers to a person’s buttocks, especially a woman’s. “Abeg” is defined as an interjection used to express emotions such as surprise, disbelief or exasperation, while “biko,” originally from the Igbo language, is described as an adverb or interjection meaning “please,” often used to add politeness or urgency to a request.
The term “Ghana Must Go” is defined as a large, durable plastic bag with a colourful check pattern, commonly used for carrying belongings across West Africa. The expression traces its origin to the 1983 mass expulsion of undocumented Ghanaian migrants from Nigeria.
Also included is “mammy market,” described as a market traditionally run by women, initially located within military barracks and later found in youth service camps and educational institutions.
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In the area of cuisine, the dictionary added “amala,” defined as a dough-like food made from yam, cassava or unripe plantain flour and typically served with soups. “Moi moi,” a dish originating among the Yoruba people, is described as a steamed pudding made from ground beans mixed with peppers, onions and other ingredients.
The update also retained “Afrobeats,” defined as a style of popular music that blends elements of West African music with jazz, soul and funk, reflecting the genre’s continued global rise.
The OED noted that the additions demonstrate how Nigerian English, Pidgin and street slang continue to shape global vocabulary, driven by migration, digital communication and the international popularity of Nigerian music, film and food.