“Mammy Market,” “Amala,” “Abeg” Added to Oxford English Dictionary in December 2025 Update

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has once again spotlighted Nigeria’s expanding cultural and linguistic influence by adding several Nigerian-originated words and expressions to its latest update. The December 2025 OED revision, released midweek, introduced over 500 new words, phrases, and tenses, with Nigerian English making a notable impression on the global wordbook.

This update further reinforces the growing recognition of Nigerian language, cuisine, street slang, and pop culture as integral contributors to modern English usage worldwide.

Nigerian Words Now Recognised Globally

Among the Nigerian-originated entries newly added to the OED are familiar everyday expressions and cultural markers, including:

• Mammy market

• Amala

• Moi moi

• Abeg

• Biko

• Nyash

• Ghana Must Go

These additions reflect how Nigerian English—shaped by indigenous languages, Pidgin, and lived social experiences—continues to influence global communication.

Meaning Behind the Words

The OED provided detailed definitions for each new Nigerian term:

• Abeg: An interjection used to express emotions such as surprise, disbelief, impatience, or appeal, depending on context.

• Biko: Derived from the Igbo language, defined as an adverb or interjection meaning “please,” often used to add politeness, urgency, or emphasis to a request.

• Nyash: Defined as a person’s buttocks, especially referring to a woman’s backside.

• Ghana Must Go: Described as a large, zippered, colourful check-pattern plastic bag widely used across West Africa. The term traces its origin to the 1983 mass expulsion of undocumented Ghanaian migrants from Nigeria, giving the phrase deep historical and socio-political roots.

• Mammy market: Recognised as a market typically run by women, originally within military barracks and later in NYSC camps and educational institutions.

Nigerian Cuisine Takes Centre Stage

Food also played a prominent role in the update, with Nigerian staples earning international dictionary recognition:

• Amala: Defined as a dough-like food made from yam, cassava, or unripe plantain flour, traditionally rolled into balls and eaten with soups.

• Moi moi: A popular dish originating from the Yoruba people, made from blended beans mixed with peppers, onions, and spices, then steamed or boiled.

The inclusion of these dishes highlights Nigeria’s culinary heritage and its growing global popularity.

Afrobeats and Global Culture

The OED update also included “Afrobeats,” defined as “a style of popular music incorporating elements of West African music and jazz, soul, and funk.” This formal recognition reflects the genre’s explosive global success and cultural relevance.

“Mammy Market,” “Amala,” “Abeg” Added to Oxford English Dictionary in December 2025 Update

A Truly Global English

Beyond Nigeria, the December 2025 update drew from multiple global varieties of English, including:

• West African English

• Maltese English

• Japanese English

• South Korean English

OED editors noted the rising global influence of regional Englishes, as digital culture, migration, and pop culture continue to reshape how English is spoken and written worldwide.

Internet slang such as “DM,” “brainfart,” and “chug” were also added, while over 1,000 existing entries were revised. The editors also explored the evolving histories of familiar words like troll, coffee, and snooker.

Nigeria’s Growing Footprint in the Dictionary

This is not the first time Nigerian expressions have reshaped the OED. In January 2025, the dictionary added 20 Nigerian words and phrases, including:

• Japa (to leave or emigrate)

• Agbero

• Eba

• Abi

• 419 (internet fraud reference)

Together, these updates underline the global relevance of Nigerian English, Pidgin, and street slang, driven by Nigeria’s youthful population, digital presence, and cultural exports.

More Than Words

The latest OED update is more than a linguistic exercise—it is a recognition of Nigeria’s influence on global culture, history, music, and food. As Nigerian expressions continue to cross borders through migration, social media, entertainment, and everyday conversation, their place in the world’s most authoritative dictionary feels both timely and inevitable.

Written by Boom RadioNG