Oxford English Dictionary Adds Nigerian Words Like Nyash, Amala And More To Global Lexicon
✍️ By Teju/ January 8, 2026/ 12:30pm
In a significant milestone for Nigerian language and culture, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has expanded its latest update to include a range of Nigerian and West African words and expressions, officially recognising them in one of the world’s most respected English lexicons. The update, published in December 2025 and rolled into 2026, reflects the growing global influence of Nigerian English, Pidgin, and everyday speech patterns.
Among the Nigerian entries now included are familiar and widely used expressions such as “nyash,” “amala,” and “mammy market,” alongside others like abeg, biko, Afrobeats, Ghana Must Go and moi moi. These additions highlight how everyday language, from slang terms to food names and cultural references, is shaping modern English.
The OED defines “nyash” as a person’s, especially a woman’s, buttocks, while “amala” is described as a type of dough made from yam, cassava, or plantain flour commonly served with soups. “Mammy market” refers to a marketplace typically run by women, originally found in military barracks and later in other community settings.
Other words in the update come from various parts of Nigerian and West African life, from music genres like Afrobeats to expressions like abeg (used to express emotions such as surprise or exasperation) and biko (an Igbo‑derived term akin to “please”). The diversity of these entries showcases how Nigerian popular culture, cuisine, and everyday speech continue to enrich English globally.
This milestone also reflects a broader trend of linguistic recognition: as Nigerian English and slang become more globally understood through diaspora communities, entertainment, and social media, more of these terms are being documented in major dictionaries. Language experts say the OED’s inclusion of these words signals not only cultural validation but also the dynamic evolution of English as a living, global language that adapts to new contexts and influences.
