‘Nyash’, ‘Mammy Market’, ‘Amala’ Added to Oxford English Dictionary

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added several Nigerian-origin words to its lexicon, underscoring the growing global influence of Nigerian language, culture, and cuisine.

The additions are part of the December 2025 update, released on Wednesday, which introduced over 500 new words, phrases, and meanings, while revising more than 1,000 existing entries.

According to the OED, the update draws from varieties of English spoken across the world, including West African English, reflecting the increasing global relevance of regional Englishes.

Among the Nigerian words added are everyday expressions and food items such as “nyash,” “mammy market,” “amala,” “moi moi,” “abeg,” “biko,” and “Ghana Must Go.”

The term “nyash” is defined as a person’s buttocks, while “mammy market” refers to a market typically run by women, originally common in military barracks and later in youth service camps and educational institutions.

Food items such as “amala,” described as a dough made from yam, cassava, or unripe plantain flour, and “moi moi,” a steamed bean pudding originating among the Yoruba people, were also included.

The dictionary further recognised “Ghana Must Go,” the popular chequered plastic bag widely used across West Africa, a term that traces its origin to the 1983 expulsion of undocumented Ghanaian migrants from Nigeria.

In addition, the OED expanded its definition of “Afrobeats,” describing it as a popular music style that blends West African rhythms with jazz, soul, and funk influences.

The update follows a January 2025 revision, in which the dictionary added 20 Nigerian words and expressions, including “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” “abi,” and “419,” highlighting the global impact of Nigerian English, Pidgin, and street slang.

The OED says the continuous inclusion of Nigerian expressions reflects the evolving nature of English and the growing contribution of Nigerian culture to global vocabulary.