Several Nigerian words and expressions have been officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary, marking another milestone in the global recognition of Nigerian culture, language, and everyday speech.
In its December 2025 update, Oxford dictionary introduced over 500 new words and phrases from different parts of the world, reflecting the diversity of global English usage. The update drew from variants such as West African English, Japanese English, and Maltese English, with Nigerian English standing out through the inclusion of widely used street slang, food names, and cultural expressions.
According to Punch, some of the Nigerian terms added to the dictionary include “nyash,” “mammy market,” “amala,” “moi moi,” “abeg,” “biko,” and “Ghana Must Go.”
The dictionary explains that nyash refers to a person’s buttocks, while mammy market is defined as a market traditionally operated by women and commonly found in military barracks, National Youth Service Corps camps, and educational institutions. Amala is described as a dough-like staple food made from yam, cassava, or plantain flour.
Moin moin, also spelled moi moi, was recognised as a bean-based dish popular among the Yoruba people. The interjections abeg and biko were added as expressions often used to convey politeness, urgency, or emphasis. Ghana Must Go was defined as the familiar chequered plastic bag widely used across West Africa, a term that traces its origin to the 1983 expulsion of undocumented Ghanaian migrants from Nigeria.
This latest update is not the first time Nigerian words and expressions have been included in the Oxford English Dictionary, as Nigerian English continues to gain international recognition for its richness and cultural influence.