‘Nyash’, ‘Mammy Market’, ‘Amala’ added to the Oxford Dictionary

The December 2025 update, released on Wednesday, introduced more than 500 new words, phrases, and meanings. It also revised over 1,000 existing entries, while editors revisited the histories of words such as “troll,” “coffee,” and “snooker.”

The update draws from different varieties of English spoken around the world, including West African English, Maltese English, Japanese English, and South Korean English. Editors noted that these forms of English are increasingly shaping global usage.

Several everyday Nigerian expressions and food items were included in the update. These include “nyash,” “mammy market,” “amala,” “moi moi,” “abeg,” “biko,” and “Ghana Must Go.”

“Afrobeats” was also added and defined as a style of popular music that blends elements of West African music with jazz, soul, and funk.

The dictionary defines “abeg” as an interjection used to express emotions such as surprise, disbelief, or exasperation, depending on context. “Biko,” which originates from the Igbo language, is described as an adverb or interjection used to make polite requests or add emphasis, similar to “please.”

“Nyash” is defined as a person’s buttocks, especially referring to a woman’s backside.

Also included is “Ghana Must Go,” the popular name for the large chequered plastic bags commonly used across West Africa. The term traces its origin to the 1983 mass expulsion of undocumented Ghanaian migrants from Nigeria. It is defined as a large zippered bag made of durable plastic with a colourful check pattern, often used for carrying personal belongings.

The term “mammy market” is recognised as a market typically run by women, originally found within military barracks and later in youth service camps and educational institutions.

In the area of cuisine, the update includes “amala,” described as a dough made from yam, cassava, or unripe plantain flour, usually shaped into balls and eaten with other dishes. “Moi moi” was also added and defined as a dish originating among the Yoruba people, made from ground beans mixed with peppers, onions, and other ingredients.

The Oxford English Dictionary had earlier expanded its collection with 20 Nigerian words and expressions in a January 2025 update. That list highlighted the influence of Nigerian English, Pidgin, and street slang, featuring terms such as “japa,” “agbero,” “eba,” “419,” and “abi.”