Abeg, Biko, Nyash, Abi: Nigerian slangs gain global recognition as Oxford Dictionary adds new words
Nigerian slangs and cultural terms have gained fresh international recognition after the Oxford English Dictionary added several local words to its global collection.
The new entries appear in the dictionary’s December 2025 update, which introduced over 500 new words, phrases, and meanings, while revising more than 1,000 existing definitions.
Nigerian words enter global English
Among the Nigerian-origin additions are common expressions and cultural references such as “abeg,” “biko,” “nyash,” “amala,” “moi moi,” “mammy market,” and “Ghana Must Go.”
The update also formally includes “Afrobeats,” described as a popular music style blending West African sounds with jazz, soul, and funk influences.
According to the dictionary, “abeg” functions as an interjection showing emotions like surprise, disbelief, or frustration. “Biko,” drawn from the Igbo language, is commonly used to mean “please” or to add emphasis.
“Nyash” is defined as a slang term referring to a person’s buttocks, while “Ghana Must Go” describes the large chequered plastic bags widely used across West Africa.
Food, markets, and cultural history
In its food category, the dictionary defines “amala” as a soft dough prepared from yam, cassava, or unripe plantain flour, usually eaten with soup.
“Moi moi” is described as a smooth steamed dish made from blended beans mixed with peppers, onions, and dried ingredients.
“Mammy market” refers to markets traditionally run by women, first found in military barracks and later common in youth service camps and schools.
The term “Ghana Must Go” also carries historical weight, tracing its name to the 1983 expulsion of Ghanaian migrants from Nigeria.
Growing influence of Nigerian English
The latest update builds on a January 2025 expansion that added Nigerian expressions such as “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” “419,” and “abi.”
Together, the additions reflect the rising global influence of Nigerian English, Pidgin, and street slang, highlighting how local language continues to shape international English usage.
