Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has expanded its global lexicon to include a range of Nigerian and West African words and expressions, reflecting the growing influence of regional language and culture on the English language. In its latest update published late in 2025 and shared publicly in early January 2026, the OED added more than 270 new entries from around the world, with over 20 stemming from West African English varieties. Among the Nigerian terms incorporated are “nyash,” “mammy market” and “amala,” alongside other expressions rooted in everyday language, cuisine, music and social life.
The inclusion of these terms signifies a broader recognition of how Nigerian English and West African English enrich global vocabulary. Nyash is defined in the dictionary as a colloquial term for a person’s buttocks, especially a woman’s, reflecting contemporary slang usage that has spread widely through social media and popular culture. Mammy market refers to a type of market typically run by women, originally found in military barracks before spreading to campuses and other community settings. Amala, a staple food in parts of Nigeria made from yam, cassava or plantain flour formed into a dough, is recognised for its cultural and culinary significance.
The December 2025 OED update draws from a variety of sources and dialects, acknowledging the dynamic nature of English as it adapts to global linguistic trends. In addition to Nigerian entries, the list includes expressions from Ghana and other West African countries, such as Afrobeats, Ghana Must Go and moi moi, underscoring the regional diversity now reflected in one of the world’s most authoritative English language references.
Linguists and cultural commentators have welcomed the additions, seeing them as validation of how local languages, street slang and culturally distinct terms shape contemporary English usage around the world. The OED’s quarterly updates, which also revise hundreds of existing entries and add new ones from global Englishes, aim to capture linguistic evolution in real time — a process to which West African language communities are increasingly contributing.
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