“Abeg, Biko”: 20 Nigerian Words Added to Oxford English Dictionary

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) expanded its database in December 2025, adding over 500 new words, phrases, and senses, including 20 Nigerian entries. The update reflects the influence of Nigerian English, Pidgin, and street slang on global language.

Among the new entries are expressions and cultural references such as nyash, mammy market, amala, moi moi, abeg, biko, and Ghana Must Go. The update also introduced Afrobeats, a music style blending West African rhythms with jazz, soul, and funk.

Other terms illustrate social and digital trends in Nigeria. “Abeg” expresses surprise or exasperation, “biko” adds polite emphasis, “nyash” refers to the buttocks, and “Ghana Must Go” names the widely used checkered plastic bags in West Africa. Words like japa, agbero, eba, and 419 further capture aspects of Nigerian culture, cuisine, and online life.