Oxford Dictionary Includes Nigerian Slangs 'Tokunbo,Danfo,K-leg' In 3rd Edition

The principal historical dictionary of the English language, Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has recognised some frequently used Nigerian English as standard English words and included it in its recent update.

OED effects its updates on a quarterly basis and the recent, January 2020 constitute the Third Edition of the dictionary.

In a statement on its websites, OED said; “The material added to the dictionary includes revised versions of existing entries (which replace the older versions), and new words and senses both within the alphabetical sequence of revised entries and also across the whole A to Z range.”


“The OED‘s latest update sees the addition of several Nigerian English words, including bukateria, danfo, and tokunbo.”


There were no lesser than twenty-nine (29) new words from Nigerian English in the new update.


Nigerian English in OED update

1. agric, adj. & n.
2. barbing salon, n.
3. buka, n.
4. bukateria, n.
5. chop, v./6
6. chop-chop, n./2
7. danfo, n.
8. to eat money, in eat, v.
9. ember months, n.
10. flag-off, n.
11. to flag off in flag, v.
12. gist, n./3
13. gist, v./2
14. guber, adj.
15. Kannywood, n.
16. K-leg, n.
17. mama put, n.
18. next tomorrow, n. & adv.
19. non-indigene, adj. & n.
20. okada, n.
21. to put to bed, in put, v.
22. qualitative, adj.
23. to rub minds (together) in rub, v./1
24. sef, adv.
25. send-forth, n.
26. severally, adv.
27. tokunbo, adj.
28. zone, v.
29. zoning, n.


To buttress the impact of Nigerian English in literature, the OED World English Editor, Danica Salazar, referenced a quote by Nigerian renown female author, Chimamanda Adichie, “My English-speaking is rooted in a Nigerian experience and not in a British or American or Australian one. I have taken ownership of English.”
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