Oxford Dictionary adds Nigerian words as ‘Amala’, ‘Mammy Market’, ‘Abeg’ goes global

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has expanded its glossary to include several Nigerian-originated words, further underscoring Nigeria’s growing cultural and linguistic influence on global English usage.

In its December 2025 update released on Wednesday, the OED added more than 500 new words, phrases and grammatical forms drawn from different varieties of English across the world. Among the new entries are Nigerian expressions such as “mammy market,” “amala,” “moi moi,” “abeg,” “biko,” “nyash,” and “Ghana Must Go.”

The editors said the update reflects the increasing global impact of regional Englishes, including West African English, as well as Maltese, Japanese and South Korean English.

According to the dictionary, “mammy market” refers to a market traditionally run by women, originally within military barracks, but now commonly found in National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps and educational institutions.

In the area of cuisine, the OED recognised “amala,” a popular Nigerian staple, defining it as a dough made from yam, cassava or unripe plantain flour, typically served with soup. “Moi moi,” a steamed bean pudding originating from the Yoruba people, was also added and described as a dish made from blended beans mixed with peppers, onions and spices.

Popular Nigerian expressions were also captured. “Abeg” was defined as an interjection expressing emotions such as surprise, disbelief or emphasis, while “biko,” borrowed from the Igbo language, was described as a polite form of request or emphasis, similar to “please.”

The dictionary further defined “nyash” as a person’s buttocks, especially a woman’s, reflecting its widespread usage in Nigerian slang.

Another culturally significant addition is “Ghana Must Go,” the name for the large chequered plastic bags commonly used across West Africa. The term traces its roots to Nigeria’s 1983 mass expulsion of undocumented Ghanaian migrants and has since become a permanent part of regional vocabulary.

Beyond Nigerian terms, the update also introduced internet slang such as “DM,” “brainfart,” and “chug,” while revising over 1,000 existing entries and re-examining the histories of words like troll, coffee and snooker.

The OED also included “Afrobeats,” defining it as a genre of popular music that blends West African sounds with jazz, soul and funk, further acknowledging Nigeria’s influence on global pop culture.

This is not the first time Nigerian expressions have gained global recognition. In January 2025, the OED added 20 Nigerian words, including “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” “419,” and “abi.” In previous years, words such as “suya,” “naija,” “danfo,” “okada,” and “mama put” also made the list.

The latest update reinforces Nigeria’s expanding footprint in global language, culture and cuisine, as everyday local expressions continue to find permanent homes in one of the world’s most authoritative dictionaries.