NIGERIA: Oxford Dictionary Adds ‘Japa,’ ‘Agbero,’ 18 Other Nigerian Words In Latest Update

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

In its latest update, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has expanded its collection with 20 new Nigerian words and expressions.

The newly added words are rooted in the everyday lives of Nigerians, highlighting the influence of Pidgin English, street slang and cultural expressions increasingly gaining traction globally.

Among the newly added terms are popular words like “agbero,” “eba,” “419”, and “abi.”

“Japa” is “the emigration of Nigerians to other countries, especially in Europe or North America, in search of education, employment, or economic opportunity.”

“Agbero” refers to “a person, often a young man, working as a tout in car parks or bus stops, collecting fares from passengers and drivers.”

The term “419”, a well-known Nigerian slang, is defined as “fraud involving advance fee scams, typically on the internet.”

Other words added include “adire”, “gele”, “cross-carpeting”, “suya”, and “yahoo boy”.

The complete list of newly added Nigerian words include: 419, abi, adire, agbero, area boy, cross-carpet, cross-carpeting and eba.

Others are; Edo, gele, jand (noun, verb), janded (adjective), japa (noun, verb), Kanuri, kobo, Naija, suya, yahoo, yahoo boy and yarn dust.

This update was made known by the Nigerian English consultant to the Oxford English Dictionary, Kingsley Ugwuanyi, who shared his excitement on Linkedin on the 7th of January, 2025.

He wrote, “I’m thrilled to announce that the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) Oxford Languages | OUP has officially published its latest updates, featuring a fantastic collection of Nigerian English words that beautifully reflect Nigeria’s culture, creativity, and the unique ways we express ourselves as Nigerians.

“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. This milestone is the result of years of hard work and dedication. I encourage Nigerians to share their favourite words from the list and suggest new ones for future updates,” Mr Ugwuanyi stated.